Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 2010
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5ZThWm9Z
Website: http://drugsense.org/url/3xEEhi0m
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: Neil Horner

STRANGE ANIMALS USED TO GUARD GROW OPS

When police act on a hot tip and bust a marijuana grow show, there's 
a whole lot more to deal with than plants, pots and people.

There can also be some pretty scary animals on site, too - and they 
can't be stored in an evidence locker or thrown in the regular lockup.

Guard animals - and they're not just dogs anymore - have become an 
increasingly perplexing issue for those swooping in to make the collar.

Speaking at an appreciation luncheon for SPCA donors in Parksville 
Tuesday, chief executive officer Craig Daniell said large, aggressive 
dogs are often used by pot growers to discourage unwanted visitors. 
These dogs, he added, are usually taken in by the SPCA.

"Imagine some of the breeds they use," he said. "We work in 
co-operation with the RCMP and when grow ops are taken down we are 
the ones that have to take these animals and care for them - hopefuly 
for a short period but sometimes for an extended time."

Dealing with large, aggressive dogs is bad enough, but it's something 
SPCA special constables are trained to do.

Dogs however, are only part of the problem.

"What we are seeing is an increasing use of exotics."

"We're even seeing komodo dragons and such like in these houses. I 
don't think any of our shelter staff are too thrilled about dealing 
with large snakes and things like that. I know I'm not."

The problem of dangerous exotics being used as guard animals for 
illicit gardening projects should subside, Daniell said, thanks to a 
ban on the import of such species recently imposed by the federal government.

"This is a very positive development," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart