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Ontario SPCA investigators removing 28 animals today from a Kerwood animal facility

NEWMARKET, ON, (March 16, 2007)

Approximately 15 Ontario SPCA investigators are on scene today at an animal facility located in the Township of Adelaide-Metcalfe, west of London to remove 28 animals - including 12 wolves, three wolf-dog hybrids, three raccoons, one red-tailed fox, three coyotes, and six shepherd-type dogs.

An assessment of the animals on the property began yesterday following information provided to the Ontario SPCA regarding animals in distress. Three dogs were found inside the house in filthy pens and without food or water. Ontario SPCA investigators issued Orders for improved living conditions and food and water, which were complied with. Investigators then found a black stallion pony in the barn with severe hoof ailments that lead to the veterinarian on scene recommending that the animal be humanely euthanized. As well, a brown mare pony was removed due to poor living conditions and poor body condition. The Ontario SPCA has relocated the pony to a boarding facility where she is receiving proper care.

Investigators also requested a veterinarian with expertise in wildlife to help assess the condition of the other animals on the property. The veterinarian ordered the removal of all of the animals due to filthy living conditions and the thin body condition of the animals - there was inadequate food and no fresh water available to the animals. Due to the lateness in the day which would impede the safety of the investigators handling the wolves at dark, and the logistics of finding facilities to relocate all of these animals to, Ontario SPCA investigators followed the veterinarian's recommendations for how to keep the animals as comfortable as possible through the night until the removal could be carried out today. The owner has surrendered all of the animals to the Ontario SPCA, which has been working diligently to find facilities to care for the different species involved.

Following the removal of the animals today the investigation will continue with charges pending. The owner of the facility, Vivian Singer, 47, of Kerwood currently faces 11 counts of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code of Canada following the removal of 18 animals, including one lion, eight dogs, six cats, two cockatoos and one turtle, from the same property in November, 2006. Charges include eight counts for failing to provide suitable and adequate food, water, care and medical attention to eight dogs and one lion; two counts for failing to provide suitable and adequate care to six cats and two cockatoos; and one count for failing to provide medical attention to three cats. Singer is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, London, on May 31, 2007.

"This is a perfect example of why we need passage of legislation such as Liberal MPP David Zimmer's Private Members Bill - Bill 154, The Regulation of Zoos Act," says Hugh Coghill, Ontario SPCA Acting Chief Inspector. "We see animals living in horrible conditions, but without regulations for the standard of care for the animals in these types of facilities, our hands are tied until the situation deteriorates to what we are seeing with these animals being removed today."

Judge laments Criminal Code's weak maximum penalities at Miseners' sentencing

NEWMARKET, ON, (October 25, 2005)

Serial animal cruelty offenders, Ralph and Rose Misener, were sentenced in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket yesterday on four Criminal Code of Canada charges of failing to provide suitable and adequate care and causing unnecessary suffering to dogs. The charges followed the rescue of 42 dogs from their custody on April 7, 2003. The dogs were found while the Miseners were standing trial on other animal cruelty charges related to the discovery of a large-scale puppy mill
with 231 dogs on their property in August 2001.

Ralph Misener was sentenced to six months in jail, and his wife, Rose
Misener, was sentenced to a six-month conditional jail term on each count
for a total of 12 months - essentially house arrest. Both received three years probation and a two-year prohibition order during which they cannot have custody or control of any animals, directly or indirectly, nor reside at an address where there are animals. The Ontario SPCA has residence and property inspection rights. No fine or restitution was levied. All probation and prohibition order sentences are to be run concurrently from any existing sentences the couple is serving.

In passing sentencing Justice Simon Armstrong stated that while the Criminal
Code provides a maximum two-year prohibition from having custody or control
of animals, "If I had the jurisdiction I would have no hesitancy to instate
a longer prohibition." Justice Armstrong also stated that if he were able to
impose a longer ban on owning an animal he "would have no hesitation to ban
for life in this case."

Bill C-50, the latest in a long line of legislative bills that would amend Canada's woefully outdated animal cruelty provisions in the Criminal Code and permit a lifetime ban, is on the agenda for the current session of Parliament. This is a crucial time for members of the public to let their Member of Parliament (MP) know they demand an effective change in the animal cruelty provisions, and that Bill C-50 is the bill of choice; not Bill S-24, a watered down alternative introduced to the Senate by Senator John Bryden that fails to effectively address the real weaknesses in the currentlegislation.

Bill C-50 would remove the onus to prove that neglect against an animal was
"wilful," before charges can be laid. Bill S-24 maintains the antiquated language of 1892 - when the Criminal Code was first written - and maintains that neglect must be proven to be "wilful" before charges can be laid. As a result, it is not enough to prove that someone starved an animal to death, for example, but that it was done on purpose. In addition, Bill C-50 would also increase penalties and remove animal cruelty crimes from the "property" section of the Criminal Code and place them in their own section. Conversely, Bill S-24 keeps animals in the "property" section, sending a negative message to potential offenders about the value of animals to society and the Courts. These changes would in no way affect traditional animal-use industries (e.g. fur farms) or the rights of anglers and hunters.

"We are pleased that the maximum prohibitions possible under the existing Criminal Code have been applied and that the Courts recognized the Miseners 41-year record of seizures, convictions and penalties (involving over 700
animals)," says Mike Draper, Ontario SPCA Chief Inspector. "However, the current law allows offenders to continue to neglect animals and to repeat this cruelty. We desperately need the public's support for the quick passage of Bill C-50 to put the Miseners - and offenders like them - out of business permanently."

The public is urged to voice their support for the quick passage of Bill C-50, which would amend and strengthen the Criminal Code animal cruelty provisions. Without quick passage a seven-year effort to pass such legislation will be doomed.

Your Member of Parliament: Find the contact information for your MP at http://canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html or call 1-800-622-6232, and The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 284 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H8.

Dog dies after being trapped in hot car. Pet owners must be very cautious
with their pets in hot weather, warns Ontario SPCA.

Brantford, Ont. (July 5, 2005)

Despite the Ontario SPCA issuing two province-wide public heat alerts for
pets since early June, a one-and-a-half-year-old dog named Jada died on
Monday, June 27 after being trapped in a hot car while her owner attended
the Brantford Charity Casino. The Ontario SPCA has charged Angelo
Economopolous, 36, of London, Ontario with three counts of animal cruelty
under the Criminal Code of Canada: failure to provide suitable and adequate
care; wilfully causing unnecessary pain; and wilfully causing unnecessary
suffering.

The Ontario SPCA Brant County Branch received a call at 2 p.m. on June 27
from the casino's Security Department indicating that a dog was trapped in a
car in the casino parking lot. An Ontario SPCA Agent attended the scene and
found that the dog had died just before she arrived. The dog had been left
in a dark-coloured car with tinted windows - two of the windows were down
just about one inch. The security officer managed to get into the small gap
in one of the windows and pulled it outwards to make it wider. He was then
able to unlock the car door and remove the dog. However, the dog was already
in very serious condition. She was convulsing, her body was hot to the touch
and her skin was covered in broken blood vessels. She died minutes after
being removed from the car.

"Since dogs have only a limited ability to sweat, even a short time in a hot
environment can be life-threatening," says Ontario SPCA Inspector Jamie
Frye. "Temperatures inside a parked car can rapidly reach dangerous levels
even on relatively mild days, and even if the windows are slightly open. A
dog's normal body temperature is 39°C and a temperature of 41°C can be
withstood only for a very short time before irreparable brain damage or
death can occur."

"It has been an extremely hot and humid beginning to the summer and this is
the worst case scenario that we were advising the public to be cautious
about avoiding," says Frye.

Mr. Economopolous is scheduled for his first appearance in the Ontario Court
of Justice, Brantford on July12, 2005 at 9 a.m. Court address: 44 Queen
Street, Brantford, Court Room 1.