STRANGE ANIMALS USED TO GUARD GROW OPS

When police act on a hot tip and bust a marijuana grow show, there's
a whole lot more to deal with than plants, pots and people.

There can also be some pretty scary animals on site, too - and they
can't be stored in an evidence locker or thrown in the regular lockup.

Guard animals - and they're not just dogs anymore - have become an
increasingly perplexing issue for those swooping in to make the collar.

Speaking at an appreciation luncheon for SPCA donors in Parksville
Tuesday, chief executive officer Craig Daniell said large, aggressive
dogs are often used by pot growers to discourage unwanted visitors.
These dogs, he added, are usually taken in by the SPCA.

"Imagine some of the breeds they use," he said. "We work in
co-operation with the RCMP and when grow ops are taken down we are
the ones that have to take these animals and care for them - hopefuly
for a short period but sometimes for an extended time."

Dealing with large, aggressive dogs is bad enough, but it's something
SPCA special constables are trained to do.

Dogs however, are only part of the problem.

"What we are seeing is an increasing use of exotics."

"We're even seeing komodo dragons and such like in these houses. I
don't think any of our shelter staff are too thrilled about dealing
with large snakes and things like that. I know I'm not."

The problem of dangerous exotics being used as guard animals for
illicit gardening projects should subside, Daniell said, thanks to a
ban on the import of such species recently imposed by the federal government.

"This is a very positive development," he said.