Remains of eight dogs found in freezer in vacant home in Weston: WPS

WARNING: Story contains details that readers may find disturbing.

Winnipeg police say they found the remains of eight dogs individually wrapped in garbage bags inside a freezer in a vacant residence in the city’s Weston area.

Police say they found the canine remains while searching a vacant home on Ross Avenue West near Langford Street on Friday around 9:30 a.m.

A dog owner in the Winnipeg neighbourhood told CityNews the situation was very concerning.

“Not good at all,” said neighbour Kyle Walsh. “With my dog here, I’m worried now someone might take her.”

“I watch my dog all the time for fear of that and now I know it’s real.”

Neighbour Kyle Walsh says he was very concerned to learn about the dogs. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

In a release issued Saturday, officers say they entered the residence to make sure nobody was inside, at which point they found the freezer with the eight garbage bags inside.

Upon discovering the remains, police say they called the city’s Animal Services Agency.

Animal services determined the dogs were all about three to four months old at the time of death. They had medium fur, long snouts and long legs.

The cause of death could not be established “due to decomposition.”

RELATED: As more vacant homes in Winnipeg go up in flames, advocates want city to act

WPS officers determined the home had been vacant for roughly six years, and that it had been frequented by “multiple transient persons” during that period.

While police didn’t release specifics as to where the home was located, Walsh says there is only one vacant home in the area.

The intersection of Ross Avenue West and Langford Street. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

It’s on a block where he has lived his entire life, and where he says there are many dog owners.

“Everybody here owns a dog,” said Walsh. “They own a dog. They own a dog. They own a dog. A dog on every corner.”

Investigators are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers with instances of suspected animal abuse or neglect.

—With files from Morgan Modjeski.