December 4, 2025On November 21, Bonnie Milligan, a breeder based in Clearwater, plead guilty to animal cruelty charges contrary to section 9.1 (2) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act for causing or permitting an animal to be in distress. Early last year, the BC SPCA investigated complaints of animal cruelty after an individual purchased a dog in concerning condition from Milligan in a parking lot in Kamloops. During the investigation, …
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News Category: Animal cruelty
November 24, 2025On November 12, 2025, in provincial court in Vernon, Sandra Nickolls entered a guilty plea to causing animals to be in distress, contrary to section 24(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA). In April 2024, the BC SPCA was called to investigate what appeared to be an injured horse on a property …
Continue reading “Owner of horses in distress pleads guilty, receiving 15-year ban on owning animals “
News Category: Animal cruelty
November 22, 2025On November 21, a breeder in Clearwater plead guilty to animal cruelty charges contrary to section 9.1 (2) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act for causing or permitting an animal to be in distress. Following her guilty plea, Milligan received 12 months’ probation, including a curfew for a period of six months. Milligan may not own, have custody or control of, or reside in the same premises as no more than 15 dogs for …
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News Category: Animal cruelty, Ways to help
November 6, 2025Ongoing disease management efforts at Universal Ostrich Farm have been a very emotional and stressful time for all involved, including the significant number of animal lovers across the country who have been following this case. This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada has issued a decision related to the Universal Ostrich Farm, dismissing the motion …
Continue reading “BC SPCA updated statement on ongoing activities at Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C.”
News Category: Animal cruelty, Farm
October 16, 2025On October 7, the BC SPCA brought 27 dogs and one cat into care from a rural property in the Kootenays, following an animal protection investigation involving concerns of irresponsible breeding and neglect. The 27 seized dogs were French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Kangal shepherds, and heelers, as well as several mixed-breed dogs, and included 12 …
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News Category: Animal cruelty
June 3, 2025On May 21, 2025, at the Kamloops Law Courts, Kurtis Leo Gordon Elliot was convicted of one count of owner neglecting animal or bird or failing to provide necessaries contrary to section 446(1)(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Following his sentencing on May 27, 2025, Elliot is prohibited from owning, having the custody or …
Continue reading “Update: BC SPCA disappointed with sentencing of Clearwater breeder following devastating animal cruelty case”
News Category: Animal cruelty, Ways to help
April 17, 2025For the second time in Canadian history, federal candidates will square off on April 23 in a national all-party debate focused on animal protection issues. Animal protection first emerged as an election issue during the 2021 federal election, with the main parties making campaign announcements and platform commitments. A 2024 Nanos poll found 43 per …
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News Category: Animal cruelty
April 9, 2025On April 4, 2025, at the Duncan Law Courts, Rhees William Kendall and Tanisha Lynn Kendall were found guilty of one count each of willfully causing or permitting unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird, contrary to section 445.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code. Between October 31, 2023, and November 16, 2023, …
Continue reading “Ladysmith couple with previous history of animal abuse in Saskatchewan found guilty in B.C.”
News Category: Animal cruelty
March 26, 2025On March 3, 2025, Crown counsel approved charges of animal cruelty (Criminal Code, Section 445.1(1) (a)) against Zachary Petropolis, for causing unnecessary pain and suffering to a dog in Kelowna in December 2023. “We received a number of calls into the BC SPCA’s Animal Helpline about this individual abusing his dog,” says Eileen Drever, BC …
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News Category: Animal cruelty
February 20, 2025At the Penticton Law Courts on February 12, Charlotte Joan Patterson pled guilty to one count of causing or permitting an animal to be in distress contrary to section 24(1) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act. On December 16, 2022, BC SPCA animal protection officers were attending an unrelated investigation in Cawston, B.C. when …
Continue reading “Owner of horse found in critical distress pleads guilty”
News Category: Animal cruelty
