A search warrant served by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan with the assistance of the RCMP Thursday resulted in the seizure of 35 cats from a property near Odessa. Odessa is located roughly 78 kilometres north of Weyburn, along Highway 35.  

No charges have been laid or announced, but the investigation is still ongoing.  

The cats were taken into protective custody, as it was stated by the APSS that they were in distress, as outlined in The Animal Protection Act. This states an animal is in distress if it is deprived of food, water, care, shelter, veterinary care or medical attention. As well, it is considered to be in distress if it is kept in conditions that are unsanitary, it is ill, in pain, abused or neglected, or if the animal has been abandoned by its owner.  

Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan was incorporated in 2015 and took over the role of enforcing the Animal Protection Act from the Investigative Services division of the Saskatchewan SPCA. The organization takes on an average of 697 cases a year, including 738 cases in 2021-22.