A dog owner from northwestern Alberta faces four charges under the province’s Animal Protection Act after 16 animals were seized from a property.

The Alberta SPCA says peace officers who searched a home in Swan Hills earlier this month found the dogs and transported them to veterinarians for examination.

One of the dogs was put down to relieve pain and suffering and another died at a veterinary clinic from significant health problems.

The remaining dogs are being looked after by Alberta SPCA caretakers

Lauri Restad is charged with causing an animal to be in distress, failing to provide adequate food and water, failing to provide adequate veterinary care and failing to provide adequate shelter.

She is to make an appearance in Barrhead provincial court on Dec. 10.

A southern Alberta woman is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4 in Lethbridge Provincial Court on four counts of causing an animal to be in distress.

April Dawn Irving was arrested in 2014 after five dogs were found dead on a property near Milk River, Alta.

The 59 year old initially faced 13 animal cruelty charges and one count of causing suffering after authorities say more than 200 dogs were also found dehydrated, starving and chained to stakes.

Those charges were withdrawn as Irving pleaded guilty to the distress charges.

The crown and defense attorney’s agree on several sentencing provisions but disagree on whether Irving should be allowed to own animals.

Irving will not be facing jail time, but fines or certain prohibition orders could be handed down.

A similar case is also still pending in Saskatchewan.

A trial for Delores LaPlante of Elrose on three charges is scheduled for Jan. 23 in Rosetown.

Authorities seized 100 cats from her home in early January and she was later charged with one count of causing unnecessary pain suffering or injury, one count of willful neglect or failure to supply food, shelter and care and one count of causing or permitting distress.

Two dogs were returned to LaPlante in a court order that also saw a cat that had been in her care returned to its original owner.

Over 70 animals were also seized from her property in 2011.

LaPlante was fined $250 in 2014 after pleading guilty to causing animals to be in distress.