Randy and Rebecca Ashworth, who operated a rescue farm in Trout Creek, have struck an agreement with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to get 10 of what they believe were illegally seized dogs, back home.
See related story: Local OSPCA seizes 71 dogs, then demands $65,000 to return them
It happened after 3 1/2 days of OSPCA testimony at the Ontario Court of Appeal when the judge asked the Ashworths if they were interested in a mediated settlement.
The Ashworths and OSPCA agreed and spend the next couple of days negotiating.
That's 10 of an original 71 dogs taken by the OSPCA last summer.
Part of the agreement is a cash settlement of $225,000 for boarding and caring for the dogs while being held by the Society.
But that was "nowhere near the costs that the OSPCA stated they were, which was approximately 700 thousand," says Rebecca Ashworth.
"If we had gone on and lost we would have been liable for their legal costs which are around 100 thousand and we've got our own legal bills as well. I don't consider it a small amount but it's definitely a lot more manageable amount than the numbers we were looking at.
"It essentially means that our house, which is two and a half years from being paid for, is back to square one. If we can't get what we need out of a mortgage, we'll end up selling it. And we're not the first people this has happened to, far from it."
The dog rescue, called the Laika fund for Street Dogs continues but she says part of the agreement will have a dramatic effect.
The OSPCA and the township forced them to give up their kennel license after having it for 22 years.
"It's not something we wanted to do because we certainly don't want to have the number of dogs here that we had before, but now, even though we land with a dog from another country and it has a place to go, it doesn't mean that someone can't back out (of the adoption) at the last minute and this was always ideal if we're left at the airport with a dog that didn't have anywhere to go. At least we could bring it home for a couple of days while we tried to find a foster placement for it. Now we have to hope that no-one backs out because we don't have that option anymore."
But that could have been a dealbreaker with the OSPCA, so the Ashworths were forced to give it up.
The ordeal has been hard for the couple.
Randy Ashworth, who already was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, has lost 40 lbs and Rebecca is now on blood pressure medication.
"My blood pressure went through the roof," admits Rebecca. "I'm on quite a bit of medication which has made my weight go up. He (Randy) didn't smoke when I married him, now after 31 years, I'm married to a smoker because that's how he's coping with the stress. As for PTSD, he had it before but I think the whole family has it now."
And it's left the couple disappointed in the whole system of justice.
"We've learned that Canada's not a free country. We think we have rights and freedoms...we don't," she said referring to the way the OSPCA has conducted itself throughout the process.
"Charter of Rights can be violated. The OSPCA can come into your home and remove property and violate your rights but nobody wants to do anything. Politicians don't want to know, police don't want to know. There's nothing anybody can do to stop them.
"This is something we'll never get over. We had to give up dogs that we've had for years and we are supposed to be working with the OSPCA to chose where they go but they are putting up a lot of roadblocks to prevent us from doing that."
Part of the court order says the OSPCA is to use "reasonable efforts" to re-home the rest of the dogs with adopters the Ashworths designate.
Rebecca charges that the Society isn't cooperating to prevent the Ashworths from knowing where the dogs are being placed.
"I believe the people who rescued the dogs, the people who funded the dogs, the people who have done the work to get them here have a right to know where those dogs go."
Support from the public has been mixed.
"People that we didn't know have come out of the woodwork to be supportive and say they are familiar with the way the OSPCA works. People have taken the time to get to know us. We've also had long-term friends who knew us that we never would have thought would turn their backs on us, who did. We also have others who know how we cared for our dogs and know those dogs were in good condition, and they've been very supportive and we wouldn't have made it without them because it really has been the worst year of our lives."
That includes, says Rebecca "all the horrible things that have happened over the past few years including almost losing a grandchild".
"I have to say this has been the worst year of our lives."
The nightmare isn't over yet.
The Ashworths and their son Mike still face four counts of animal cruelty after being charged on October 31, 2015, under the Ontario SPCA Act. The charges include one count of permitting an animal to be in distress and three counts of failing to comply with the Standards of Care.
Those charges remain before the Courts.
