Woman pleads guilty to two counts of animal cruelty after 82 cats and one dog removed. Receives Sudbury court’s first five-year ban from owning animals.
Ontario SPCA
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
NEWMARKET, ON, (February 23, 2007) – On February 21, 2007 Sharon Chaput, 58, of Sudbury pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sudbury to two counts of failing to provide suitable and adequate care to cats and one dog under the Criminal Code of Canada.On March 27, 2006 Chaput’s landlord contacted the Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Branch to report a large number of animals abandoned at the apartment rented to Chaput. Ontario SPCA investigators attended the property and found 62 cats with no food or water living in unsanitary conditions. Over a two-day period Ontario SPCA investigators removed all cats from the small apartment. An additional 20 cats and one dog were removed from Chaput’s custody when she was later located. Some of the cats suffered various ailments including severe upper respiratory distress, ear mite infestation, and eye deformities. Many were found to be feral (unsocialized) in behaviour.
The Ontario SPCA provided rehabilitation and care to the animals and many were adopted at the Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Branch. Due to the large number of cats removed, several cats were relocated to the Ontario SPCA Provincial Office in Newmarket for adoption. Sadly, some of the animals were euthanized on the recommendation of a veterinarian due to medical issues related to the animals’ unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions and lack of appropriate veterinary care.
Sharon Chaput received a three-year probation during which the Ontario SPCA has residence and property inspection rights, and Chaput cannot have custody or control of any animals, directly or indirectly, nor reside at an address where there are animals. Chaput must surrender any animals currently in her custody and must notify the Ontario SPCA of any changes of address. Chaput was also sentenced to 150 hours of community service, and any assessment or counselling that her probation officer feels appropriate. In addition, Chaput received a two-year prohibition from owning animals to run consecutively to the three year probation order.
“Once again a judge uses two provisions of the Criminal Code to lengthen the period of time that a convicted animal abuser can be prohibited from owning animals,” says Hugh Coghill, Ontario SPCA Acting Chief Inspector. “This further demonstrates the need for changes to the animal cruelty sections of the Criminal Code. Currently the Code provides a maximum two-year prohibition from having custody or control of animals.”
To make a donation to the Ontario SPCA call Cathy at 1-888-ONT-SPCA (668-7722) extension 322.
To report suspected animal abuse call the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-ONT-SPCA (668-7722) extension 1, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), your local Ontario SPCA Branch, affiliated humane society or police.
Media Contact:
Alison McAllister
Ontario SPCA Senior Inspector
(705) 566-9582
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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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