Woman facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with unlicensed kennel in Hamilton

A woman is facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with an unlicensed kennel in Hamilton, where two pet owners claimed their dogs died while in her care.

A woman is facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with an unlicensed kennel in Hamilton, where two pet owners claimed their dogs died while in her care.

On Friday, the province said it laid these charges against Jessica Kippen on Nov. 15, in relation to the death of five dogs and two dozen dogs in distress.

The charges laid against Kippen under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act include 24 counts each of exposure to undue risk of distress, causing distress, permitting distress and offences relating to standards of care. The charges have not been tested in court.

In June, CTV News Toronto spoke with two pet owners who claimed their dogs died at Kippen Cares, the kennel Kippen ran.

Jenuen Monroe previously told CTV News Toronto one of her two bulldogs, Cartelo, died overnight at Kippen's home.

"She's like, 'Yeah, like, he's dead,'" Monroe said. "She goes, 'Well, he's in the freezer. I put him in the freezer.'"

Monroe and her partner said they videotaped the inside of Kippen's home, where the kennel was allegedly run, and said they saw piles of junk, a lack of air conditioning and a few dog crates.