Examples of tattoos done last year by an illegal operation in north Red Deer. Pictures are from Facebook posts that have since been deleted. (Submitted)

By rdnewsNOW staff

bad ink

Testing recommended for customers of illegal tattoo shop

Apr 30, 2019 | 9:39 PM

RED DEER – Alberta Health Services (AHS) is telling everyone who received services at an illegal home-based tattoo shop in north Red Deer to be tested for viruses that can be spread through unsanitary tattoo procedures.

Acting on a tip from the public, AHS Environmental Public Health inspectors confirmed the existence of ‘Tattoos by Aimee and Jenny,’ an illegal operation located at 22 Hanna Street in Red Deer. AHS believes the operation stopped operating in February 2019.

“This particular home-based tattoo operation did not have approval to operate”, says Dr. Ifeoma Achebe, Medical Officer of Health for the Central Zone of AHS. “Proper sterilization or sanitation processes cannot be confirmed, meaning individuals who received tattoos through this operation may have been exposed to viruses including Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.”

AHS is telling anyone who received tattoos from Tattoos by Aimee and Jenny or its operators, Aimee Eagle or Jenny Hougestol, to call AHS Public Health (403-356-6366) or their physician to arrange for confidential testing for these viruses.

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Individuals may also call Health Link at 811 on a 24/7 basis with any questions or concerns.

“To prevent the spread of infection from one person to another, equipment used in tattooing must be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized according to health standards. It is the responsibility of all tattoo facility operators – whether residential or otherwise – to ensure all regulations are met and operations are compliant,” says Dr. Achebe. “This applies not only before opening a tattoo operation but also while operating; always. Our health inspectors support these businesses to operate safely. We are here as a resource.”

AHS is also reminding Albertans to confirm that a tattoo operation is routinely inspected before receiving any tattoo services from any facility. They can ask the operator for their most current health inspection report or call Central Zone Environmental Public Health at 403-356-6366, or toll-free at 1-877-360-6366.

For further advice on selecting a safe tattoo facility, Albertans are encouraged to see AHS’ Think Before You Ink checklist.

The owner of the home at 22 Hanna Street says his former tenants caused a lot of damage and left behind 3,000 pounds of garbage (Submitted)

(Submitted)

The owner of the home where the illegal tattoo operation was located says he’d been having problems with the building’s tenants, Aimee Eagle and Joey Swanson (Arthur), before evicting them in February.

The owner, who asked not to be named, says neighbours told him as many as 15 people were living in the house despite only two adults being on the lease.

He also says Eagle was advertising day home services at the house, as he discovered through Facebook posts by Eagle.

(Submitted)

The owner says he made multiple attempts to rectify the situation with his tenants, but they refused and he was forced to evict them.

After Eagle and Swanson had left the house in late March, the owner says he took more than 3,000 pounds of garbage to the dump. He is now working through a long list of repairs that includes the complete gutting and rebuilding of bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and the basement.

Once the repairs are complete, the owner says he will be taking his former tenants to courts to reclaim the costs.

(With file from AHS media release)