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Ontario SPCA
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Newmarket, ON, (November 20, 2007) – Gladys and Howard Hamerston of the Town of Georgina, charged under the Ontario SPCA Act, pled guilty to failing to provide adequate medical attention to animals engaged for the purpose of breeding and sale. The settlement was signed on November 15, 2007 in the Ontario Court of Justice, Newmarket.Last spring, the Ontario SPCA responded to a report of poor conditions at the property of a local cat and dog breeder in Georgina. With warrant in hand, an Ontario SPCA investigative team found over 30 animals, many in poor health and requiring immediate veterinary intervention.
The settlement order includes animal ownership restrictions with respect to dogs and cats. The Hamerstons also agreed that they will not breed cats for the rest of their lives. Additionally, the Hamerstons must provide the Ontario SPCA inspection rights for the duration of their lives.
This is the Hamerstons’ third conviction, underscoring the need for more severe penalties, greater fines and jail terms for individuals convicted of animal cruelty, especially repeat offenders. Such change was promised in the last Ontario election by Premier Dalton McGuinty, who pledged to develop some of the toughest animal protection standards in the country. These amendments are still pending.
Currently, the legislation limits the powers of the Ontario SPCA and its agents and inspectors from laying provincial offences on perpetrators accused of animal cruelty, unless they are engaged in the breeding and sale of dogs or cats and those penalties are not severe. In fact, Ontario is the only province in the country where it is not a provincial offense to cause or permit an animal to be in distress. Additionally, there is no provision to put a lifetime ban on ownership for someone convicted of animal cruelty. “The Ontario SPCA Act is grossly inadequate in terms of providing a permanent resolution to dealing with perennial offenders and perpetrators of animal cruelty, by offering no heavy consequences,” says Hugh Coghill, chief inspector, Ontario SPCA.
Contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to voice your support for the government’s commitment to providing stronger animal protection in Ontario and encourage the quick implementation of amendments to the Ontario SPCA Act. To find the contact information for your MPP, visit www.gov.on.ca and click on “MPP” in the Contacts section.
Media Contact:
Kristin Williams
Public Relations Manager
1-888-668-7722 ext. 305
Cell: 905-853-2108
kwilliams@ospca.on.ca
————————————————————————————————————————The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA): Protecting animals since 1873, the Ontario SPCA is a registered charity comprised of over 50 Branches and affiliated Humane Societies relying primarily on donations to fund animal protection, care and rehabilitation for all animals, government and industry advocacy, and public education. The Ontario SPCA Act mandates the Society to enforce animal cruelty laws and provides Society investigators with police powers to do so – making the Ontario SPCA unique among animal welfare organizations in the province. The Ontario SPCA is a member of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and is affiliated with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Ontario SPCA Provincial Office, 16586 Woodbine Avenue, RR3 Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4W1 • 1 888 ONT-SPCA (688-7722) • www.ontariospca.ca • info@ospca.on.ca
Charitable Business Number 88969 1044 RR0002
