Police rescue 16 puppies from 'horrendous' conditions in Markham, Ont., home

TORONTO — Two men are facing multiple charges after police rescued 16 puppies from "horrendous" conditions at a Markham, Ont., home. 

York Regional Police say they received information about a puppy that had been potentially sold with fake vaccination records last December. 

They say officers learned that ads were posted online offering puppies for between $700 and $1,500 each and buyers were provided with fraudulent vaccinations documents. 

Police say officers executed a search warrant at a home where they found 16 puppies in four small cages. 

They say all the puppies were brought in for medical attention.

Police say a 42-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were charged with willfully permitting unnecessary pain or suffering or injury to an animal, fraud and forgery, among other charges.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2022. 

The Canadian Press