Charges laid in incident that saw more than a dozen animals seized from Lethbridge home

Two more people have been charged in connection with a series of animal cruelty investigations in Lethbridge.

Lethbridge police announced the latest charges on Thursday.

On Sept. 4, police were called to the 600 block of Ninth Street South, where they seized four puppies, three adult dogs, four cats, a lizard, a mouse and a fish.

Police said at the time the Ninth Street South home was “unfit for habitation” and that a closure order had been issued.

A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were forced to leave as a result.

On Thursday, police said Aaron Burke, 22, and Savannah Rayne McClung, 23, have been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The charges were laid on Oct. 12.

Burke and McClung are not currently in custody.

Both are free on the condition “not to possess or care for any domestic animals.”

They are set to appear in court on Nov. 18.

That investigation was the second in a series by Lethbridge police.

The first took place in the 500 block of 18th Street South, where police say a dog was found “extremely emaciated.”

The dog was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment.

Its owners—John Joseph Rosenberg, 39, and Atia Leslie Fleming, 45—were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Rosenberg and Fleming were released on the condition “not to possess or care for any domestic animals.”

They are set to appear in court on Oct. 28.

A third investigation involved an unattended vehicle found in an alleyway along Leaside Avenue on Sept. 8.

Police found numerous cats inside, as well as several others roaming the property.

Five cats were seized.

A 55-year-old man was given five bylaw tickets for failing to provide basic animal care.

Each ticket carried a fine of $300.

His name was not released by police, as it is “not a matter of public record.”

With files by Michael Franklin