A British Columbia breeder has applied to the city of Surrey for a licence to operate an animal daycare and grooming business, even though the province鈥檚 animal watchdog has concerns and is recommending animal cruelty charges against her.

BC SPCA officials have removed animals from one of Ivy Zhou鈥檚 Surrey, B.C. breeding and boarding facilities twice in the past two years. A total of 82 animals, including two cats that had to be euthanized due to 鈥渃ritical distress,鈥� were seized earlier this year. Several dogs and cats were removed in 2014 from the same property.

鈥淲e have recommended charges in this particular case and we're just waiting from Crown to hear if those charges are accepted,鈥� Marcie Moriarty, the BC SPCA's chief prevention and enforcement officer told CTV Vancouver.

Documents also show Zhou owes the BC SPCA $37,402.51 for the care of animals seized from her kennels. She is also facing a $25,000 lawsuit from a client who claims she let a dog die in her care.

The BC SPCA says it paid Zhou a visit just last month, ordering her to improve living conditions for the dogs and cats in her care, as well as a goat and a chicken. Through a translator, Zhou  said she didn't know the BC SPCA gave her any orders in September.

The animal welfare organization has the right to remove animals in immediate danger of dying and order owners to improve conditions. But Moriarty says there are currently no grounds for the BC SPCA to deem Zhou unfit to work with animals.

鈥淯nless a person is convicted of animal cruelty and receives a ban on owning animals, there is no power for the BC SPCA to say, 鈥楲ook, this person clearly should not be caring for, boarding, selling, breeding animals,鈥欌�� said Moriarty.

Zhou said her tarnished reputation is the result of a smear campaign by other dog daycares.

鈥淪he cried every night. She is a single mother. She cannot stand for this bully,鈥� Zhou鈥檚 translator said.

Surrey鈥檚 business licence department told CTV Vancouver that Zhou has not proved that she has changed and the department will not consider her application for a daycare and grooming business. 

With a report from CTV Vancouver鈥檚 Jon Woodward