{"id":15919,"date":"2016-03-10T15:13:17","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T20:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kb.webitgarage.ca\/conviction-in-pont-rouge-veal-calf-case\/"},"modified":"2018-06-11T21:32:33","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T01:32:33","slug":"conviction-in-pont-rouge-veal-calf-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/conviction-in-pont-rouge-veal-calf-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Conviction in Pont Rouge veal calf case"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"MercyForAnimals1\"<\/a>
Photo credit: Mercy for Animals Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Montreal, March 10, 2016 \u2013<\/strong> Following the Montreal SPCA\u2019s investigation into a milk-fed veal farm located in Pont Rouge<\/a>, Quebec, \u00c9ric Dame, a former employee of the facility, has been found guilty of subjecting the animals to abuse and mistreatment. He was sentenced to a 4,000$ fine and will be prohibited from possessing more than five animals for a period of 15 years.<\/p>\n

In 2014, the Montreal SPCA launched an investigation into alleged acts of cruelty and neglect following an official complaint by Mercy for Animals Canada (MFA), who filmed disturbing undercover images at the Pont Rouge facility. The airing of the shocking footage obtained by MFA<\/a> sent shock waves across the province. Captured footage shows calves crammed into crates so narrow that they are unable to turn around, ill and injured animals left to agonize over several weeks, and workers, including Dame, shoving, kicking and screaming at calves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we are pleased to have obtained a conviction in this case, this outcome also demonstrates to what extent farm animals lack legal protection in Quebec,\u201d said Me Sophie Gaillard, lawyer for the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Animal Advocacy department. \u201cWhen it comes to farm animals, only gratuitous acts of cruelty are punishable by law, as anything that can be considered a standard industry practice is exempt from the provincial legislation. Thus, even the worst practices in terms of animal welfare \u2013 the use of veal crates so narrow that they prevent animals from turning around, for example \u2013 are perfectly legal as long as they are considered acceptable by the industry itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Media contact: <\/b>Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514-226-3932, or anitak@spca.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About the Montreal SPCA<\/i>
\nFounded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:<\/p>\n