THUNDER BAY -- A 56-year-old man has been prohibited from owning animals for five years after pleading guilty to permitting an animal to be in distress and failing to comply with orders.
The man pleaded guilty in a provincial offences court last week to the charges and was fined $200, sentenced to two years probation and barred from owning, caring for or living with any animals for a five-year period.
An Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officer with the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society went to the man's residence last July after receiving concern about the welfare of dogs on the property. The officer saw a small dog with overgrown nails and long, matted fur that covered its entire body to the point where its face was not visible.
Orders were issued for the dogs to be groomed by a professional groomer and for the dogs to be examined by a veterinarian and to follow treatment recommendations.
Charges were laid when those orders did not receive compliance and the four dogs were voluntarily surrendered. The dogs were assessed to be underweight and suffering from severe neglect.
"There is no excuse for failing to care for your animals," senior inspector Lynn Michaud said in a statement. "We want to encourage pet owners to reach out to the Ontario SPCA or their local Humane Society if they are unable to provide the necessary care for their animals."
The dogs have since been adopted into new homes through the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society.
