Woman pleads guilty to provincial animal cruelty charges after 43 dogs removed from Ripley-area property
Ontario SPCA
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Hanover, ON, (September 19, 2007) – Linda Taylor, of the Township of Huron-Kinloss pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice, Walkerton on September 17, 2007 to two counts under the Ontario SPCA Act, including one count of confining dogs in an enclosure with inadequate space, and one count of failing to provide a female papillon-type dog with adequate medical attention when the animal was sick. The charges were laid following the removal of 40 adult dogs and three young puppies from a rural property located near Ripley, Ontario.Acting on a complaint from the public, investigators from the Ontario SPCA, accompanied by a veterinarian and two Ontario Provincial Police Officers, executed a search warrant on the Ripley-area property on March 6, 2006. The investigation of the property found the 43 dogs and puppies living in inadequate conditions, confined mostly to small cages or crates – some were so small that the dogs could not fully sit up. Many of the crates and cages were in disrepair. On the written recommendation of the attending veterinarian, the dogs and puppies were removed from the property. Also removed was one sugar glider that was being kept in inadequate conditions.
The dogs were of various breeds including bichon frise, papillion, Pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier, Maltese, poodle-type and spitz-type. The majority of the dogs were found cold and shivering in crates in the basement. Some of the dogs had filthy, matted and feces-encrusted fur.
The dogs underwent veterinary assessment, treatment, grooming and rehabilitation at the Ontario SPCA York Region Branch and have since been adopted.
Linda Taylor was sentenced to two years probation during which she cannot participate directly or indirectly in the breeding or sale of dogs and cats. She must also surrender any animals found in her possession to the Ontario SPCA within 30 days of the sentencing, with the exception of five dogs. Taylor is further prohibited from breeding dogs or cats for sale for 15 years. The Ontario SPCA has residence and outbuilding inspection rights twice yearly.
“These types of provincial charges can only be laid in situations such as this, where the owner is engaged in the breeding and selling of dogs and cats,” says Darren Grandel, Ontario SPCA Senior Inspector, Western Region. “We’d like to see these standards of care in the Ontario SPCA Act apply to all situations involving animals, not just breeding and selling operations.”
To report suspected animal abuse call the Ontario SPCA Bruce-Grey Branch at (519) 364-0400, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or police.
Media Contact:
Darren Grandel
Ontario SPCA Senior Inspector, Western Region
519-476-6624
————————————————————————————————————————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
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