(Posted 6:30 a.m., Oct. 23)
Orléans man faces animal cruelty charges after police bust marijuana grow op
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

An Orléans man faces five counts of animal cruelty and one count each of producing drugs and possession for the purpose of trafficking after police discovered a marijuana grow op operation while answering a routine 9-1-1 call on Aug. 25.

It was while answering the 9-1-1 call that police were confronted by four pit-bull type dogs and two Rottweiler-type dogs. After securing a search warrant police found various grow op paraphernalia in the basement along with $150,000 worth of marijuana plants.

Ottawa Humane Society officials, who were brought along to deal with the animals, found four pit bull-type puppies in an upstairs room that was covered in animal feces and lacked food or water. A cat was also found in a downstairs bathroom with an overflowing litter box and no food or water. All 13 animals were removed from the house and taken to the Ottawa Humane Society shelter.

The home's two occupants Mohamed Tariq Hussain, 28, and Sakina , 24, were arrested and taken into custody. After being arraigned on charges of producing drugs and possession for the purpose of trafficking they were released on bail.

Hussain immediately applied to get the four puppies and the cat back. Rather than try to secure a motion to keep the animals until the trial, the Humane Society agreed to release the animals to the accused under a number of conditions to ensure adequate standards of care are in place at the property.

According to the Humane Society, Hussain has complied with the conditions since his release. His apparent cooperation, however, did protect him from being charged with five counts of animal cruelty “for permitting distress to and not meeting the standards of care for animals in his possession". The charges were filed on Oct. 20.

Hussain is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4 to face the grow op charges. Ten days later he will be back in court to face the animal cruelty charges. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail, fines of up to $60,000, and a potential lifetime ban on owning, having custody or care of, or living with any animal.

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