B.C. SPCA seizes animals from woman it lost 2014 defamation case to

The B.C. SPCA has seized at least 39 animals from a woman with whom it has acomplicated past.

Around 11 a.m. PT, Monday,10 people from the organizationarrived at a property in Langley, after receiving a complaint that animals were in distress.

Carrying crates with animals inside oneat a time, they took 18 cats and 21 farm animals and were also examining more than 40 dogs to determine whether they needed to be taken into care.

"Our constables and a community veterinarian are on the property and, based on the their assessment, we are currently removing animals who meet the definition of distress under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and who require immediate care," saidMarcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the B.C. SPCA, in a statement.

The SPCA also said it was nota puppy mill investigation, and that no charges had beenlaid. Theysaid the animals seized were "suffering from malnutrition and other medical issues," but declined to comment otherwise.

'It breaks my heart'

It's the second timeSandraSimans has had her animals seized by the B.C.SPCA.

"I want people to know the truth about what's going on and not jump to a conclusion that we're some kind of bad, crazy folks that are abusing animals," she said.

Simansoperates a rescueshelter for older animals. In 2012, the SPCAseized 52 dogs and 19 cats from her facility, which was then in Burnaby.

The organization subsequently lost a defamation case against Simans, after a judge ruled the SPCA's news release suggested she had injured an emaciated Chihuahua.

• B.C. SPCA ordered to pay pet rescuer Sandra Simans for defamation

Simans arguedin that case, the SPCA wasoverzealous in taking her animals and says the same situation is playing out this time again.

"Were they in perfect condition? No. I don't think you're going to find a rescue [animal] that is. Every rescue is battling. It doesn't make you an abuser," she said, adding that they were not adding any new animals to the facility.

"I would have likedifthey said, 'this isn't perfect, so what are you going to do about this?'Why does this have to be that somebody becomes a bad guy at the end of it?"

"It breaks my heart to not be allowed in my home."