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Attorneys/Judges
| Defense(s): | Marilena Carminati |
| Judge(s): | David Tilley |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #14305 Rating: 3.1 out of 5
Sunday, Aug 1, 1999
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Marion Cecilia French
Marion Cecilia French, 84, of Jasper Place has been placed on 12 months of probation and told she can't own more than six cats after she pleaded guilty to animal abuse.
She was charged by the Edmonton SPCA authorities in August when they found ten diseased cats living in horrible conditions within her home at 10259 157 Street. The officers found 25 dead cats on her property.
The ten seized cats appeared to have significant health problems because they hadn't received property care for a long time. French didn't intend to hurt the cats but because of the rundown condition of her home and not being fed properly the cats health has suffered. The home has been condemned by the city.
Four of the cats removed from French's property have been destroyed and six were returned to French.
When Judge David Tilley saws photos of French's home, he said "I'm certainly glad I've already had lunch." Tilley told French she can keep up to six cats but they must be neutered or spayed, she must take proper care of them and allow the ESPCA to inspect her home after giving 24 hours notice.
The defense attorney Marilena Carminati told the court French loves her cats, but is in poor health due to her age. "She cares very much for these cats, but with her increasing age has found things more difficult to maintain."
French was never married or had any children. She moved to Edmonton in 1954. In 1980 SPCA authorities seized and destroyed 38 dead and dying cats from her west-end home. It is not known at this time if charges were ever brought against French for the 1980 seizure of 38 cats.
References
- The Edmonton Sun - June 13, 2000