A Vancouver man was fined $2,000 and banned from owning animals – except for a pet dog – for five years after pleading guilty to one of two counts of charge of keeping an animal in distress.

Glen Affenzeller (who also goes by the last name Zeller) was the owner/operator of Dogtalk Ventures Ltd. in Vancouver. Through the business he provided a dog walking and training service employing four of his own dogs to help teach and influence client dogs and rescue dogs.

When the SPCA and Vancouver Police Department officers executed a warrant on August 3, 2019, they found six dogs in the care of the 65-year-old man, two of which belonged to clients, the district attorney said. Crown Jim Cryder to Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris. Wednesday.

Among the dogs were three pit bulls, a coon hound, a mastiff and a Neapolitan mastiff, all of different ages.

Cryder said the animals were found sick, suffering and in distress, lacking veterinary care and living in unsanitary conditions.

He said the charge fell under B.C.’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act rather than the criminal code.

He told Harris they were in a yard smelling of urine with piles of feces and chewing bones covered in dirt.

Cryder said the dogs had several scars, one was dehydrated and others had abscesses.

When it came time for an SPCA veterinarian to examine the dogs, Cryder said the animals were nervous, shy and wary of new people.

The veterinarian found that the animals were suffering from pain, discomfort and were suffering from “chronic neglect.”

Affenzeller then asked the BC Farm Industry Review Board to take the dogs back. He was denied, Cryder said.

Defense lawyer Patrick Johnston said his client was remorseful about the situation.

Before passing sentence, Harris said caregivers “must remain ever vigilant” to ensure the emotional and physical well-being of the animals who depend on them.