Postage Paid On Dog And Cat From Vulcan

Jill Marshall from Vulcan County has been charged with two counts of Causing an Animal Distress under the Animal Protection Act.

Marshall who is 53 years old, put a puppy and kitten in a small box, stuck postage stamps on the dog and left them outside of the Milo Post Office in May.

According to a news release from Vulcan County, Marshall tried on two separate attempts to allegedly mail living animals, once on May 7th and again on May 17th.

Locals may remember the Marshall name in the news, as in the past Ty Marshall who previously owned the Animal House pet store in Okotoks was in and out of courts on allegations of running what was characterized as a puppy mill.

On a Facebook statement Ty Marshall says he may share the same last name, but he denies any involvement or relation to the case.

According to Vulcan's Protective Services Jill Marshall is known to have a history with them as well as with the ASPCA.

Kim Hessel owner of Heaven Can Wait Pet Rescue in High River, says she can't speak to Marshall's motives, but says if she meant to surrender her animals she did it all wrong.

"I mean the puppy and kitten that were in that box, you could have put an ad on any local community group, or Facebook page. She probably could have gone on the Kijiji route and she would have had 50 people saying "Sure I'll take that pup."

Hessel says if you need to remove a pet from your home, there's so many safe ways to do so, all you have to do is look.

"There really are a lot of options. Some times you have to take a few minutes and start looking at them. If you do a little bit of research you'll find a ton of options. The rescue community of course is a great place to start. We have some very good humane society's across Southern Alberta, That's an option too." Hessel adds that the internet has some resources as well "There's reaching out on Community Facebook groups, talking to your vet clinics and asking if anyone has mentioned they're looking for an animal."

If you've tried everything in your power to keep your pet, and still have to pass them on, Hessel pleads to surrender instead of ditching them.

"If you can't keep your animals, for what ever reason, we try not to judge but you do need to put the effort in to try and find a safe place for that animal to be. That means doing the research and not just putting them in box or leaving them at the end of a country road."

Marshall will appear in Lethbridge Court for her first appearance on July 30.

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