Two women to face charges in Peace River: more than 300 distressed animals rescued

Following a high profile rescue of more than 300 domestic pets at In the Woods Animal Rescue near Valleyview, RCMP have announced those who were charged.

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In September, Valleyview RCMP received reports of “distressed animals” in two locations of a well-known animal rescue service in Northern Alberta, In the Woods Animals Rescue. Their website, now pulled down, did have a message about their ceasing operations and providing an email contact for administrative inquiries.

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On Oct. 28, along with agencies specializing in animal cruelty, the Canadian Animal Task Force and the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society, RCMP executed the warrant and began locating and systmatically removing the animals from the properties and into the care of other agencies.

“Over 300 animals in varying states of distress, both physically and mentally, were located and rescued. Many were deprived of basic necessities, including veterinary care and humane living conditions.”

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Two women were charged. 69-year-old Sheryl Woods, a resident of Marie Reine and 67-year-old Cheryl Bastien, a resident of the Municipal District of Smoky River face three charges in Peace River’s Alberta Court of Justice on Dec. 15

Charges include two Criminal Code of Canada offences, the willful neglect of animals and causing unnecessary suffering and one under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta.

Before RCMP and other agencies were involved, at least one woman was posting about conditions at the animal rescue on social media 10 days before search warrants were executed.

“In The Woods Animal Rescue Alberta – Canada!!! Okay… I’m just gunna go ahead & pin this to the top of my page since so many people read ONE SINGLE POST &; make rude comments without seeing the whole story! Also…the nasty comments can stop…you are adults.. aren’t you?
I HELPED IN THE WOODS FOR A YEAR!!! I donated. I walked dogs. I fostered many dogs, during my time there. I cleaned up after dogs. I even adopted 3 dogs! One didn’t make it…I offered to do much more, grooming, cleaning kennels, clean over flowing litter boxes, take animals to the vets.. I was DENIED. The cats in her care are very sick. She takes the “healthier” ones to the adoption events. The dogs are all locked in small kennels, covered in their own urine & feces…Some locked up for years… some over a DECADE…left matted, over grown nails, covered in their own urine & shit, going crazy, left in tiny cages…This is what you are supporting people. If you, after all of this can’t see that, then you are a lost cause…,” posted Kayla LaBounty on Oct. 18.

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Another woman’s post was shared by Lee Crystal Wilson that included more photos. On her own social media, Wilson expressed her anger and distress. She also mentions how people who had worked or visited the sheltered animals were the ones who set out to get help a different way.

“One minute I’m angry and the next I’m crying. I just want this to go away and it will in time. In The Woods Animal Rescue president and I opened the rescue together in 2013. In fact I named the rescue. We were like sisters. I came and left a couple different times over maybe a 3 year period. She and I after that had very much an off again on again personal relationship. She knew I didn’t support the way she ran the rescue. I offered help over and over to place dogs but in a nut shell all I ever got was no! At the beginning she worked with a few organizations but before long any mention of transferring a dog elsewhere was met with anger and denial” she posted on Nov. 2.

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“This was a rescue that had everything big time given to them. They took in most animals even when they had little capacity to properly care for them. They couldn’t/didn’t care for them yet turned away help from so many. I know the initial intentions were good but what happened? There were plenty of resources out there that were not used even when they faced her dead in the eye. As the years went by more animals suffered, more animals locked in crates and cages with little to no care. They were merely existing. I tried. I tried to help, I begged and I pleaded. I offered ideas over and over yet nothing changed. Some feel that those of us that banned together using social media were out of line, uncaring, and heartless and they have every right to own their feelings. My role in this was anything but easy. It broke my heart to do this to someone I still deeply care for but really she did it to herself,” she continued.

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“She hoarded these animals, left injuries and medical needs untreated, allowed breeding on site then sold the off spring and believed there was nothing wrong with doing so.Animals were left in crates and kennels living a slow death yet she believed these animals were better off with her. Those that spoke up had no choice and to those who watched it happened and stayed silence shame on you. In the end it was about the animals. They had to come first. If we as a society cannot trust a rescue who the hell can we trust. It is a privilege to have an animals love not a right. For all the souls that suffered at the hands of this rescue this fight was for you and for all animals going forward. I am so sorry you were made to live the way you did for so many years. We tried. Over and over we tried to get you out.

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I wish no ill on In The Woods executives but do wish justice for the innocent souls that suffered. I pray that the executive gets the help needed and that each and every person affected by this can find peace. The healing for some like myself will take a long time. If you need to cry call me just as I hope I can call you just the same. To everyone that didn’t stop fighting for these souls thank you, I am forever in your debt.”

More than 300 animals were rescued from two locations. Organizations throughout the province stepped in to help house, medically treat and rehome the variety of animals that included dogs, cats, horses and more.

Cst. Dayna Serafin with Valleyview RCMP thanked the Canadian Animal Task Force, the Animal Rescue Crew Society and more than 16 other animal welfare agencies across Alberta for their help. She also noted that Coun. Ken Wittig and local businesses supported the operation.

“Animals are important to all of us….Together, we were able to immediately place these animals into safe environments where they are receiving the care they need.”

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