Bingley and her friends recently described the bill, which she received a few days ago, on a Facebook group. The tally of $15,797.98 includes wages for special constables and the cost of renting and fueling a van to take the animals from their home near New Glasgow to the Metro Shelter in Dartmouth, as well as the care and feeding of the puppies and the seven adult dogs since the seizure, with vaccinations and other vet treatment administered.
According to Bingley, in a letter delivered to her by the local Westville police, the SPCA set a deadline for payment of the massive sum by December 18. If she fails to pay in full by that date, the SPCA said it will assume ownership of all of the animals. And the costs listed only cover up to November 30, so they presumably continue to mount.
Meanwhile no charges have been laid against Bingley, and her lawyer and vet have been unable to get a reply to their inquiries about the situation. The SPCA shelter has reportedly placed all or most of the dogs to foster homes.
The letter did not cite any legal basis for such an ultimatum, or indeed why the urgency. But certainly, with children of her own to care for, Bingley is not likely to be in a position to fork over such a princely sum just weeks before Christmas.
UPDATE: Janice Bingley posted this scan of the letter on her Facebook profile:
The text of the letter is as follows:
November 20, 2009
Janice Bingley
1035 Lyon's Lane
Westville,
Pictou County,
Nova Scotia
Dear Ms. Bingley:
Further to the seizure of your animals on October 19, 2009, please find a statement of cost incurred by the Society in caring for the animals up to and including November 20, 2009.
These expenses are your responsibility and it is my expectation that by close of business December 18, 2009 you will either have made full payment or will have made alternate payment arrangements that are satisfactory to me.
In the event you do not make necessary arrangements for the payment, the animals will become the property of the SPCA.
Should you have any questions concerning the above noted matter, I can be reached at the Provincial Office at 835-4798. Mail should be sent to Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, Suite 209, 1600 Bedford Highway, Bedford, N.S. B4A 1E8.
Yours truly,
The NOVA SCOTIA SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY
Roger Joyce
Chief Provincial Investigator
