Charges stayed against Calgary man who had 40 animals, 20 guns seized from rural property

Charges have been stayed against Fred Brokop, who had 40 animals and 20 guns seized from a rural property near Calgary where he was living.

In January 2018, police tactical teams, humane society investigators and other agencies converged on a sprawling rural property southwest of the city, where they seized the animals in distress, including dogs, cats, birds and reptiles.

Sources told CBC News at the time that in addition to the animals, improperly stored long guns were also confiscated.

Police said at least 15people were on the property at the time of the raidbut due to shanties, sheds and derelict trailers set up there it was hard to determine who lived there and who was visiting.

Brokop was facing 15 weapons-related charges and breaching a court order, but in November all charges were stayed.

In January and February 2017, Brokop pleaded guilty to two counts ofanimalcruelty which resulted in fines and a 10-yearanimalprohibition, according to court documents obtained by CBC News. He has an exemption for boarding horses, according to the Calgary Humane Society's website.

Documents showed he had allowed a horse and several ducks to be in distress.

Brokopalso appeared to be connected to an online ad for a litter ofcanecorsopuppies at the time of the January seizure, offering them for $1,500 each. TheKijijiad, which has since been taken down, included a phone number linked to Brokop.

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