Montreal, January 15, 2016 – Yesterday, the Montreal SPCA seized two dogs, eleven turkeys, two pheasants, and five partridges along with a number of deceased animals from a property located in the Lanaudière region. Following an investigation by the Montreal SPCA inspection department, the decision was made to seize the animals under the Criminal Code as they were being kept in deplorable conditions. The animals were safely removed from the premises and are currently in the custody of the Montreal SPCA, where they are receiving the attention and veterinary care that they require.
Investigations and seizures such as this are a huge undertaking, both operationally and financially, for the Montreal SPCA, which receives no government funding for criminal investigations into animal cruelty. And, while provincial animal welfare legislation does provide some protection for farm animals, Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture only permits inspectors from the Montreal SPCA to apply the provincial law to dogs and cats. Consequently, in cases involving farm animals, the Montreal SPCA has no other option but to proceed under the Criminal Code.
In 2015 alone, the Montreal SPCA inspection department conducted 1339 investigations involving 1945 animals and seized over 650 animals. “Members of the public often assume that because our inspectors have law enforcement powers,we are subsidized by the government. When it comes to our work under the Criminal Code, this is absolutely not the case” said Me Sophie Gaillard, lawyer for the Montreal SPCA’s animal advocacy department. “Caring for animals seized under the Criminal Code, often for several months or even years, is a serious responsibility for our organization. We count on the 
public and our donors to provide us with the financial support we need so that we can continue rescuing animals in cases like this”.
If you witness any incident of cruelty or animal neglect, please report it to the Montreal SPCA inspection department by leaving a message at: (514) 735-2711 ext. 2230, or sending an email to inspection@spca.com. In case of emergency, please call (514) 735-2711, extension 0.
Animal abuse or neglect can also be reported to the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation by calling 1 844 ANIMAUX or by sending an email at: centraledesignalement@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514-226-3932, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:
- protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
- represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
- raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.
For many years, the Montreal SPCA has been working hard with municipal, provincial and federal governments to improve animal protection laws. In 2015, our inspection service investigated 1,339 new complaints and conducted the inspection of 1,945 animals, all species combined. A total of 659 animals were seized as a result of these investigations and several criminal and penal charges were laid.
For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com.
