Many of us will be spending Christmas with our pets around wagging their tails with anticipation on their face. We share pictures of them wearing funny Santa hats and we are thankful for the joy of having them in our life.  Imagine, for a minute, what your Christmas would be like if suddenly your pets disappeared and you are left to spend Christmas without them.

That's how Randy & Rebecca Ashworth are feeling right now. Their Christmas will be without their beloved dogs because OSPCA has their own agenda.

In July of 2015 OSPCA, without notice or justification, swept in on a little farm outside of North Bay Ontario and seized 71 dogs, both rescues and family pets belonging to Randy and Rebecca Ashworth. The Ashworths have been licensed as a rescue for over 20 years without any problems. A few years ago, along with rescuing local dogs, they started a well respected international rescue for dogs from other countries called the Laika Fund for Street Dogs. For those not familiar with the story, you can read it from the beginning on the first petition demanding OSPCA return the Ashworth dogs.  

           https://www.change.org/p/stop-abuse-of-power-by-ospca

After numerous demands and broken promises from OSPCA the dogs remain hostage in shelters scattered around the province. The Ashworth's appealed the seizure to the Animal Care Review Board. Those hearings have not been completed yet.  The Ashworths begged for their dogs to be returned until the results of the hearing were in. They have not been found guilty of anything so why can't the dogs go home until the decision is made.  Many of the dogs have been affected tremendously by abusers who kept them all their life in small cages to be used when required for fighting, meat or other horrors these poor dogs faced.  OSPCA felt the dogs were better off in shelters instead of a 12 acre farm where they were loved and cared for and could run free to enjoy life. The thought of keeping them enclosed in cages at any shelter is heartless and cruel. The emotional and financial burden this has caused is crippling. However OSPCA has their own agenda.

An alternative was presented to OSPCA in October through the Ashworth lawyer.  The owners of Waggy Tails Resort in North Bay offered to be a third party in order to rescue the dogs and mitigate the stress they had already suffered at the hands of OSPCA. The Ashworths agreed to sign over their dogs to Waggy Tails and in return Waggy Tails promised a comfortable temporary home for all the dogs on 5 acres of land. A spotless, beautiful large facility far superior to any shelter in Ontario with absolutely every conceivable luxury for a dog available. 

https://www.facebook.com/waggytailsresort/?fref=photo

They were willing to take responsibility for the dogs,  keep them safe on their property and give OSPCA agents full access at any time of the day or night. They were willing to work with OSPCA in any capacity until the ACRB hearings had been completed. The goal was to prevent the dogs from  being further traumatized in cages at a shelter. Waggy Tails also offered to absorb all costs for their services.  The last invoice from OSPCA, dated in October, was for almost $200,000 for holding the dogs in their care.  That amount goes up approximately $700 a day. The hearing resumes in January. You do the math. The emotional and financial burden this has caused is crippling.  OSPCA rejected the offer. OSPCA has their own agenda.

The Ashworth dogs have now been held hostage for almost 6 months. To date OSPCA have not allowed the Ashworth vet, lawyer or family to visit or view any of the dogs or even disclose where they are being held. No news about them whatsoever except for the OSPCA spin. Are they all still alive? What possible harm would it do to at least allow the Ashworth vet to see them? What is it they are hiding? Are we going to see a press release from OSPCA that "due to extenuating circumstances" many or some of the dogs have been killed? Every one of them were under the care of a licensed veterinarian who is aware of their condition. If anything happens to any of the dogs, it will be as a result of action taken by OSPCA. Take a look at this short video and see for yourself how they were loved and cared for and how they spent their Christmas with the Ashworths in the past. These are the dogs OSPCA are holding in cages. These are Ashworth dogs from Christmas past.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_jLPMGfWDM&feature=youtu.be

How can an organization whose mandate is supposed to be the welfare of animals be so heartless you might ask? It's not new to them. Do a Google search and you will find out for yourself. OSPCA has their own agenda.

To add to an already difficult time, this will be the first Christmas without their precious Elsa who was in her winter of her life and dying of cancer.  Veterinarian Dr. Rob Porter testified at the hearing they had an end of life plan in place for Elsa.  OSPCA had their own agenda. They killed Elsa 3 days after seizing her. They did not notify the Ashworths. Elsa died alone in a strange place without anyone who loved her to help her through the final exit.

2015 should have been a wonderful Christmas for the  Ashworths. After almost losing their precious newborn grandchild around Christmas of 2014, they looked forward to this Christmas. These are people who celebrate life and share whatever they can with others. They are selfless, warm hearted people who do not deserve the pain and agony they have been forced to endure. Their Christmas now will be without a large part of their family. It is the first time in almost 25 years they will not have any of their beloved dogs with them. OSPCA has their own agenda.

Only the Ontario Premier's office and the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services can stop OSPCA and their abuse of power. Help raise public awareness about this situation. We cannot let this fall between the cracks of bureaucracy.  Share this petition with everyone you know. If you live in Ontario contact your local MPP to wish them season's greetings and ask them to demand OSPCA give back the dogs. Help bring justice to Elsa and the other 70 dogs who, along with Rebecca and Randy, will have a heartbreaking Christmas.

While you cuddle and play with your own pets this Christmas, please say a prayer for the entire Ashworth family and their beautiful dogs.  Forced to be separated at a time when life should be wonderful for all of them. Unfortunately OSPCA has their own agenda.