Man living in tent had 37 huskies

Authorities say they returned 19 huskies taken by animal advocates to a Canadian man living in a tent with 18 more of the dogs.

Canadian broadcaster CTV reported Monday the Lachute, Quebec, man had taken in several of the huskies some time ago after the dog sledding company where he worked went out of business. They weren't spayed or neutered and eventually he found himself with 37 of the dogs. But the cost of caring for them contributed to his eviction from his home this summer and the man has been tying them to trees near the tent where he's living, CTV said.

The unidentified man had contacted the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle and the provincial Agriculture Ministry to help him find foster and permanent homes for the animals.

But this past weekend, members of Keepers of Animals Rights for the Mistreated and Abused and other agencies went to Lachute to check on the dogs.

"Apparently the dogs have been there since September last year," said Dee-Ann Gallant of KARMA.

"Huskies are used to cold climates. They have to be either in the basement or somewhere cool in the summer, they can't be left outside."

Gallant had found homes for seven of the dogs another set of animal rescue advocates from Eleven Eleven Rescue say they took 19 of the dogs Sunday evening, considering them abandoned, only to be stopped by police and government officials. The owner of the dog pack told CTV News he was trying to find owners for the animals and is capable of taking care of them in the meantime.

The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle was to house the remaining animals at the organization's shelter.