Press release – For immediate release
Montréal, February 15, 2023 – Last November, video of a wild boar being attacked by two dogs were widely circulated on social and traditional media. This morning, investigators from the Montréal SPCA’s Investigations Division, with the Sureté du Québec’s assistance, arrested Dany Deschamps, age 31,accused of instigating the event. He appeared this afternoon at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse, and he faces two charges: wilfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal (s. 445.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code), and wilfully failing to provide suitable and adequate care to an animal (s. 446(1)(b) of the Criminal Code).
The disturbing images, allegedly filmed in Saint-Anicet in the Montérégie region of Quebec, went viral on social and traditional media last fall. They showed an individual encouraging two dogs to repeatedly attack a tuskless wild boar who was confined in a pen, inflicting serious injury and suffering on the animal for many minutes.
The Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division immediately received numerous reports and opened a criminal investigation, which lead to the identification and arrest of the individual.
The Criminal Code provides that every person who commits an offence of animal cruelty by causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury (s. 445.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code) and is charged summarily is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years less a day, or to both. The Criminal Code also stipulates that every person who wilfully neglects an animal they own or have control or custody of, including failing to provide the animal with suitable and adequate care (s. 446(1)(b) of the Criminal Code) and who is charged summarily, is liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
“The degree of suffering inflicted on the wild boar in the videos that were widely shared last November is truly shocking,” said Sophie Gaillard, Acting Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. “We are proud of our Investigations Division’s work in this case and keen to see justice done.”
The accused was granted bail under certain conditions, including “not owning, having custody or control of an animal, not living in a place where an animal is present and not being in the presence of an animal”.
In order to avoid compromising the legal proceedings, we are currently unable to share further information about the case. Anyone with information on the case is invited to contact the Montreal SPCA’s Investigation Division. All tips are treated confidentially.
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Source : Montreal SPCA
Media contact: Jeanne Beauchamp, chargée de comptes relations publiques, tök communicatons, 514-535-0326 | extension 201, jeanne@tokcommunications.ca
If you witness an incident of cruelty or neglect of an animal, please report it to the Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division at 514-735-2711, ext. 2230, or fill the form on SPCA website. In an emergency, 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 (1 844 264-6289 ) or by filling the form on their website.
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montréal in 1869, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (now better known as the Montreal SPCA) was the first animal-welfare organization in Canada. The SPCA has come a long way since its beginnings and is today the largest animal-protection organization in Québec, speaking on behalf of animals wherever there is ignorance, cruelty, exploitation or neglect.
