The owner of a Surrey animal rescue centre accused of stealing pets from people's backyards has been charged with the theft of four more dogs.
Janet Olson now faces a total of 25 charges including fraud, theft and break-and-enter for allegedly stealing dogs and then putting them up for adoption through A Better Life Dog Rescue.
But Surrey Mounties say their investigation into Olson's activities is far from over, and they plan to recommend about 30 more charges involving multiple dog thefts against the Air Canada pilot.
The latest charges, sworn last week, relate to animal thefts on Nov. 14, 2009 in Abbotsford, Feb. 8, 2010 in Surrey, July 9, 2010 in Richmond and Jan. 3, 2011 in White Rock. Michaela Schnittker is also charged in connection to the Richmond incident.
Olson and her co-director Louis Reid were first arrested after police say they watched the pair pilfer a bulldog named Samson from its yard on Nov. 21. Investigators say the duo were wearing uniforms reading "Animal Welfare" during the heist.
Olson has also been charged with stealing a dog from a Surrey property in April 2011, as well as three counts of breach of conditions for allegedly violating her bail terms by continuing to operate her rescue business.
After the first round of charges was announced late last year, a flood of tips poured into the Surrey RCMP detachment from dog owners who believe their animals were stolen by Olson.
Suspicions about A Better Life date back years, and stretch across the Lower Mainland and into Washington State, and a Facebook group called No Better Life is devoted to collecting stories from pet owners who believe they are victims.
In an interview with CTV News in December, Olson said that she doesn't steal dogs, but rather rescues them from cruel owners.
"These are sentient creatures. They deserve to have their rights protected by society," she said.
A statement posted on the rescue operation's website says that each dog "is legitimately acquired and legally the ‘property' of ABLDR (although we are greatly resistant to the attitude that dogs are considered and treated as property)."
The BC SPCA says it works with more than 60 animal rescue organizations across the province, but will not associate with A Better Life.
