Evicted tenants leave animals behind for several days

A property owner was doing an interview with a news team outside their home on Highland Avenue in Hamilton today after the tenants who were evicted last week left their animals behind at the property for several days. Neighbours and the owners asked for help concerned for the well-being of the animals.

The property owners Karina Loayza and Bryan Ortiz say the tenants who at first were a man, a woman, and their two kids had an eviction order for October 1st. Loayza says the tenants left on time but left their animals behind and it’s too dangerous to get in.

“We’ve been contacting the SPCA, Humane Society, Provincial Animal Welfare. No one seems to be wanting to take responsibility for the welfare of these animals,” Loayza said.

The neighbors also reached out to Animal Services and are worried, “there’s a house full of animals, I don’t know how many like are still living.”

When a news team was doing an interview with the property owners today the tenants showed up. The tenant yelled saying the animals are fed but the neighbors don’t believe that’s the case.

Hamilton police showed up after Loayza called 911. Loayza says the tenants have been there for two years and didn’t pay rent properly, owing them thousands of dollars. She says now she needs to pay to save the animals.

The SPCA says effective January 2020 the Ontario government provides animal protection services. The city also referred to the Provincial Animal Welfare Services for animal abuse also known as PAWS.

A neighbour says PAWS showed up last week but nothing happened. CHCH News reached out to PAWS but still haven’t heard back.

The property owners say they have started a GoFundMe page to raise money to save the animals.