27 CHIOTS SAISIS AU QUÉBEC LORS D'UN CONTRÔLE ROUTIER

[Animal 0]

UNE NOUVELLE QUI N'A PAS FAIT LA MANCHETTE DES JOURNAUX DU QUÉBEC- 27 CHIOTS SAISIS LORS D'UN CONTRÔLE ROUTIER: UN QUÉBÉCOIS ACCUSÉ

p.s: la Municipalité de Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover se situe à environ 5 kilomètres au nord-est de Drummondville

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27 puppies seized in police RIDE check, Quebec man charged

By MICHAEL JIGGINS

Staff Writer


More than two dozen puppies rescued from deplorable conditions inside a van stopped along Highway 401 last month continue to make their recovery in the Brockville area.



As they do, a Quebec man is scheduled to appear in Brockville court next month on a charge stemming from what OPP are describing as a disturbing
animal cruelty case.

OPP said 27 puppies of various breeds were found inside a minivan after it was stopped during a routine RIDE check at the westbound exit ramp on Highway 401 at Stewart Boulevard.

The scene actually unfolded along the highway on Dec. 22, but information wasn't released by police to the media at the time.

On Tuesday, Leeds OPP Constable Sandra Barr said the 41-year-old man from St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, Quebec, who was behind the wheel of the 1999 Plymouth Voyageur van, was arrested at the scene on a charge of animal cruelty.

The name of the man, who is to appear in Brockville court on Feb. 8, was not released yesterday.

Barr said the puppies, including basset hounds, chows and Shih Tzus, were discovered after the van was stopped at the RIDE check just after 2:30 p.m.

She said Constable Rob Sinclair approached the vehicle and became suspicious after the driver rolled down the van's window.

"There was an overpowering foul odour emitting from the interior," said Barr.

She said the seats in the rear of the van had been removed and the interior contained several small plastic hampers used to transport the puppies.

Barr said Sinclair's report described the interior as being soaked in dog urine and covered with feces.

"He said it was just a horrible transport condition," said Barr.

"It's so sad," she added.

Officials from the local Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) responded and removed the puppies.

Connie Mallory, senior OSPCA inspector for eastern Ontario, said yesterday some of the puppies required veterinary treatment, but all of them have survived and are making a recovery.

"For the most part they have been responding to some TLC and are doing well," she told The Recorder and Times, noting they've been cared for by local animal shelter staff as well as a handful of foster care providers.

She stressed, however, people should not inundate the Brockville shelter with inquiries about the puppies.
"The dogs are not available for adoption at this time," she said.

Mallory said the OSPCA has no jurisdiction to investigate the case further because the dogs originated in Quebec.
Information has been passed to that province's animal protection agency. "Now they will conduct their investigation," said Mallory.

Neither Barr or Mallory had information about where the puppies were being delivered. "They were obviously puppies that people were looking to buy or possibly
they were going to pet stores, I don't know," said Mallory.

She stressed would-be puppy purchasers have a role to play in stopping such activity.

"It concerns me that these animals had to travel a long distance and it concerns me that people are still buying puppies without actually getting the history of where they came from," she said. "We always say that if people are going to buy dogs, it's important that they know where they came from. Make sure that they can see the mother and the father of the dog."

Not only does that allow the buyer to ensure the breeder is ethical, but knowing the dog's background will give clues to possible genetic health problems and behaviour issues.

"We try to educate. I think we're getting there in Ontario and I think that's why the dogs are coming in from Quebec now," she said.

While Ontario has for the past couple of years had tough new legislation to allow investigators like Mallory to crack down on problem breeders, she said "Quebec has nothing."

Mallory noted the accused in this case is not subject to Ontario's animal cruelty legislation because the animals originated in Quebec.

Under the Criminal Code charge he is facing, the maximum penalty is a $2,000 fine, six months in jail and a two-year breeding prohibition.

However, Mallory said the provincial cruelty laws in Ontario allow for fines of up to $60,000 and a lifetime ban on breeding.

She said cases of animal cruelty are always difficult to investigate. "You'd like to think that you're getting the message out there. It's only a small percentage of people who don't look after their pets properly,
but those that don't - we do see some nasty stuff," said Mallory.

CETTE NOUVELLE EST PARUE LE 9 JANVIER 2008 DANS LA SECTION A, PAGE 1 DU BROCKVILLE RECORDER & TIMES