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Case #2196 Rating: 2.7 out of 5
Puppy mill - 63 dogs, 6 cats seized
Tara, ON (CA)Incident Date: Sunday, Nov 30, 2003
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Karen McEwan
» Brent Poliquin
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Two people have now been charged by the Ontario SPCA following the rescue of 63 dogs, six cats and seven chickens from a property in the Township of Arran-Elderslie in Bruce County last December.
Karen McEwan and Brent Poliquin, both of Tara, Ontario each face eight counts under the Ontario SPCA Act as amended in December 2002 to address offences by breeders of dogs and cats for sale. The charges include failing to provide adequate medical attention when the animal is sick, failing to provide adequate food, failing to provide adequate water and failing to provide adequate protection from the elements. They are also charged with confining dogs in an enclosure with inadequate space, confining dogs in an enclosure with unsanitary conditions, confining dogs in an enclosure with inadequate ventilation and confining dogs in an enclosure with one or more animals that may pose a danger.
At the time of rescue most of the dogs were in stacks of small wire cages inside the house. "Conditions were appalling and extremely unsanitary, with urine-soaked paper for bedding," said Ontario SPCA Senior Inspector, Darren Grandel. "Many were seen to be spinning around in their tiny cages due to stress. Other dogs were being kept outside with no bedding, shivering in the snow."
One of the dogs, and all six cats were in such poor condition they had to be euthanized. Sixty-two dogs, mostly small breeds including Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Pekinese and Poodles were adopted into loving new homes.
Karen McEwan and Brent Poliquin are scheduled for their first appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice, Walkerton on May 14th, 2004. Under the amended Ontario SPCA Act they could face a maximum fine of $60,000 on each count, a jail term of up to two years and a lifetime ban from breeding dogs and cats for sale.
Case UpdatesKaren McEwan and Bruce Poliquin are the first puppy mill operators in Ontario to receive a lifetime ban from breeding dogs or cats for sale. The ban was issued on July 14 after the two plead guilty to eight counts each under the Ontario SPCA Act. The charges were laid following the rescue of 63 dogs, six cats and seven chickens by the Society from a property in the Township of Arran-Elderslie in Bruce County last December.
The charges included failing to provide adequate medical attention when the animal is sick, failing to provide adequate food, failing to provide adequate water and failing to provide adequate protection from the elements. They were also charged with confining dogs in an enclosure with inadequate space, confining dogs in an enclosure with unsanitary conditions, confining dogs in an enclosure with inadequate ventilation and confining dogs in an enclosure with one or more animals that may pose a danger.
McEwan and Poliquin also received a three-year probation, which includes prohibition from owning or possessing any animals, and fines of $3,000 and $1,500, respectively. The probation terms permit Ontario SPCA investigators the right to inspect the property to ensure no animals are in their possession during the probationary period.
At the time of the rescue most of the dogs were in stacks of small wire cages inside the house. Conditions were appalling and extremely unsanitary, with urine-soaked paper for bedding. Many were seen to be spinning around in their tiny cages due to stress. Other dogs were being kept outside with no bedding, shivering in the snow.
One of the dogs, and all six cats were in such poor condition they had to be euthanized. Sixty-two dogs, mostly small breeds including Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Pekinese and Poodles were adopted into loving new homes. | Source: OSPCA - July 16, 2004
Update posted on Nov 27, 2005 - 6:09PM |
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