MacNutt, Sask., man guilty of causing distress to animals
A judge has found a MacNutt, Sask., man who was accused of mistreating dogs, horses and cows guilty of causing animals to be in distress.
That's after a number of adult greyhounds, a borzoi, and six puppies were seized two year ago from Murray Andres's property by the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The distress charge is under the Animal Protection Act.
Andres was also charged under the Criminal Code with wilfully neglecting or failing to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for the animals, but Yorkton Judge Ross Green acquitted him of that charge.
Greyhounds, other dogs seized
Court heard that in February 2012, the SPCA seized 12 adult dogs (most of them greyhound crosses, but one of them a mastiff) and six greyhound cross puppies.
The Crown said the dogs had inadequate shelter and were shivering. Many had lesions on their toes.
"Frozen cattle heads" were often the only food source available for some of the dogs, according to a veterinarian who's report was presented at the Andre's trial.
Part of the Crown's case was that the six puppies found living in a barn had old bones for food and a bowl of snow for water. The puppies had parasites. One had a serious viral infection and had to be put down.
Meanwhile, the SPCA also found problems with the farm animals. Many of the horses had hoof problems. One of the cows was severely emaciated and had a severe eye wound. Another cow had a lump on its jaw.
A veterinarian later put down the cow with the eye wound.
Andres denies allegations
Andres argued the Animal Protection Act charge was vague and furthermore, the assessed condition of his animals was subjective. He said he took reasonable care of his animals, but the judge disagreed.
"In my view Mr. Andres did take some minimal steps towards providing water, food, shelter and care for his animals, but his efforts, taken together, were nowhere near what would be required to constitute reasonable care in preventing distress in many of the animals he was responsible for this day," Ross said in his written decision.
The judge decided on the case on Dec. 5. The sentencing was left to a later date.
MacNutt is close to the Manitoba border, about 370 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.
