THUNDER BAY -- The Ontario SPCA has charged a resident of Oliver-Paipoonge township with a total of 40 counts of animal cruelty following an investigation into the condition of animals on a rural property in September.
The 67-year-old man, whose name was not immediately made available, faces two counts of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code of Canada, and 38 additional charges under the Ontario SPCA Act. His first court appearance will be next month.
The criminal charges are as follows:
- willfully permit to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering and injury to an animal
- willfully neglect or fail to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care
The charges under the SPCA Act include:
- 6 counts of causing an animal to be in distress
- 7 counts of permitting an animal to be in distress
- 7 counts of failing to provide the necessary care for their general welfare
- 1 count of failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical care
- 1 count of failing to provide adequate and appropriate food and water
- 4 counts of failing to provide adequate and appropriate resting and sleeping areas
- 3 counts of failing to provide adequate and appropriate sanitary conditions
- 3 counts of failing to provide adequate and appropriate protection from the elements, including harmful temperatures
- 3 counts of failing to provide a pen or other enclosed structure or area, and any surfaces, structure and materials in it safe and non-toxic to animals
- 3 counts of failing to provide a pen or other enclosed structure or area, and any surface, structure and materials of a texture and design that will not bruise, cut or otherwise injure the animals
An OSPCA inspector executed a search warrant on September 28, 2017 to enter the property after information was received from an eyewitness.
The officer found two female dogs and 15 puppies, as well as a third adult dog with untreated injuries, to be in immediate distress. The adult dog had to be euthanized due to the severity of her injuries.
The inspector also found a variety of other animals including cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs and turkeys living in what the OSPCA described as deplorable conditions.
There were about 90 animals in total on the property.
Senior Inspector Lynn Michaud said in a statement on Friday that the OSPCA had conducted "a thorough and exhaustive investigation...providing humane and responsible care for your animals is the law. Failing to do so will result in legal consequences."
The executive-director of the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society, an affiliate of the OSPCA, said it's important for the public to know that investigations of this nature can be time-consuming .
In an interview, Cassandra Nordal told tbnewswatch.com "We want to stress how important this investigation was to us. It doesn't happen overnight. We have to take all legal pathways to make sure that everything is completely accurate and we have everything in a row."
