Former Quebec zoo owner pleads guilty to animal welfare violations, avoids criminal charges – Montreal
The previous proprietor of a Quebec zoo pleaded responsible to 4 animal welfare offences on the Trois-Rivières, Que. courthouse Wednesday morning, however will keep away from felony fees.
Normand Trahan pleaded responsible to 4 infractions underneath Quebec’s Animal Welfare and Security Act after the Crown dropped the felony fees towards him from 2019.
The Montreal SPCA confirmed the plea in a press launch saying Trahan should pay fines nearing $7,000 and is prohibited from proudly owning animals for 5 years, until they’re home animals saved at his residence for non-commercial functions.
Fees of animal cruelty and neglect have been first introduced towards Trahan, then-owner of the Saint-Édouard Zoo, in Might 2019 following a felony investigation carried out by the Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division.
The investigation, which started in August 2018, was prompted by a criticism filed by guests to the zoo, positioned about 120 kilometres east of Montreal in Saint-Édouard-de-Maskinongé.
Animal safety officers, which have related powers to cops, have been granted a search warrant and descended on the zoo in a bid to execute the warrant and seize the zoo’s animals.
On the time, Trahan launched an unsuccessful courtroom problem to dam the seizure.
Ultimately, over the course of a number of weeks, greater than 200 wild and unique animals have been faraway from the zoo, together with lions, tigers, kangaroos, wolves and primates.
The SPCA stated it managed to acquire possession of all of the animals and that they’ve since been relocated in “certified services the place they obtain all of the specialised care they want.”
The Montreal SPCA stated it was “happy” with Trahan’s “act of contrition.”
“The offences to which Mr. Trahan pleaded responsible relate to the situations wherein the animals have been saved on the Saint-Édouard Zoo, together with insufficient and unsanitary services, in addition to lack of veterinary look after injured or in poor health animals,” stated Chantal Cayer, director of the Investigations Division.
Learn extra:
Quebec zoo at heart of animal cruelty allegations ordered closed by workers’ safety board
The SPCA additionally pointed to the necessary position of animal safety charities, such because the SPCA, in imposing animal welfare legal guidelines.
“The consequence obtained in courtroom at this time exhibits how important this work is,” stated Montreal SPCA govt director Élise Desaulniers, including the group had achieved the mission it got down to do, “to guard the Saint-Édouard Zoo’s animals and guarantee their welfare.”
Trahan’s lawyer, Michel Lebrun, informed reporters in Trois-Rivieres, Que., Wednesday that his shopper was prepared to show the web page.
“I might let you know that Mr. Trahan is relieved and really completely satisfied to maneuver on and be capable of think about a peaceable retirement,” he stated following the listening to.
The zoo was offered earlier this 12 months.
–With information from The Canadian Press’ Sidhartha Banerjee
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