{"id":34756,"date":"2021-11-10T10:17:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T15:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/?p=34756"},"modified":"2021-11-10T12:31:25","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T17:31:25","slug":"the-former-owner-of-the-saint-edouard-zoo-found-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/the-former-owner-of-the-saint-edouard-zoo-found-guilty\/","title":{"rendered":"The Former Owner of the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo Found Guilty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press release \u2013 For immediate release<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trois-Rivi\u00e8res, November 10, 2021 <\/strong>\u2013 Normand Trahan, the former owner of the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo, pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences this morning at the Trois-Rivi\u00e8res courthouse, following an investigation by Montreal SPCA animal protection officers. The charges relate to all of the animals seized at the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo in 2019 as part of a historic operation conducted by the Montreal SPCA. In total, more than 200 animals were removed from the premises, including lions, tigers, zebras, bears, wolves, kangaroos and primates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normand Trahan will have to pay nearly $7,000 in fines. He is also prohibited from owning animals for a period of five years, with the exception of domestic animals kept for non-commercial purposes at his residence. The seized animals have been permanently placed in new, qualified facilities where they are receiving all the specialized care they require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The offences to which Mr. Trahan pleaded guilty relate to the conditions in which the animals were kept at the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo, including inadequate and unsanitary facilities, as well as lack of veterinary care for injured or ill animals,” said Chantal Cayer, Director of the Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division. “The Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division is satisfied to have obtained an admission of guilt in this case.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was in response to a report of abuse lodged by visitors to the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo that animal protection officers from the Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Division first opened a criminal investigation in August 2018. Over the following months, they conducted an investigation during which they obtained various court orders allowing them to collect evidence in accordance with the law. The investigation was subsequently submitted to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et p\u00e9nales who, after a thorough review of the case, authorized the filing of criminal charges against Mr. Trahan. In May 2019, officers from the SPCA’s Investigations Division obtained a search warrant allowing them to return to the premises and seize the zoo\u2019s animals. Given the magnitude and complexity of the operation, it took place over a period of several weeks. Despite an attempt to block the seizure of the animals through a court challenge shortly after the execution of the search warrant began, the evacuation of the animals was able to resume after the court ruled in favour of the SPCA’s Investigations Division. In total, over 200 animals were relocated under close veterinary supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAcross Canada, animal protection charities like the Montreal SPCA are responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws. The result obtained in court today shows how essential this work is,\u201d said \u00c9lise Desaulniers, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. \u201cThe Montreal SPCA’s primary concern in this matter is, and always has been, to protect the Saint-\u00c9douard Zoo\u2019s animals and ensure their welfare, which we have accomplished.  We are pleased and relieved that we were able to obtain ownership of all the animals seized and that they are now permanently placed in new, qualified facilities where they receive all the specialized care they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-30-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source:<\/strong> Montr\u00e9al SPCA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media contact:<\/strong> 
Anita Kapuscinska, Senior Consultant, Corporate Development and Media Relations, Montr\u00e9al SPCA, 514-656-2760, anitak@spca.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annexes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Offences to which Normand Trahan pleaded guilty<\/li>
  2. About the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Investigations Division<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Annexe 1: Offences to which Normand Trahan pleaded guilty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Regulation respecting animals in captivity <\/strong>(c. C-61.1, r. 5.1<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    29.<\/strong><\/a> Every animal must be kept in an animal keeping facility that offers living conditions compatible with the biological requirements of its species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    32.<\/strong><\/a> Animal keeping facilities where an animal is kept and the building where the facilities are located must always be kept in a good state of cleanliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They must be cleaned regularly and be laid out so that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (1)  the facilities do not receive excrements, urine or food remnants from another animal keeping facility;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (2)  the animal may avoid direct contact with its excrements and those of the other animals;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (3)  food waste, excrements or urine do not accumulate in large quantities;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (4)  liquids on the soil of buildings drain rapidly so that the soil remains dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    46.<\/strong><\/a> Every animal must receive the health care required when injured or sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Animal Welfare and Safety Act (RLRQ, c. B-3.1)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    5.<\/strong><\/a> The owner or custodian of an animal must ensure that the animal\u2019s welfare and safety are not compromised. An animal\u2019s welfare or safety is presumed to be compromised if the animal does not receive care that is consistent with its biological needs. Such care includes but is not limited to ensuring that the animal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (1)  has access to drinking water and food of acceptable quality in sufficient quantity;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (2)  is kept in a suitable place that is sanitary and clean with sufficient space and lighting and the layout or use of whose facilities are not likely to affect the animal\u2019s welfare or safety;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (3)  is allowed an opportunity for adequate exercise;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (4)  is provided with the necessary protection from excessive heat or cold and from bad weather;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (5)  is transported in a suitable manner in an appropriate vehicle;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (6)  is provided with the necessary care when injured, ill or suffering; and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (7)  is not subjected to abuse or mistreatment that may affect its health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the purposes of subparagraph 1 of the first paragraph, snow and ice are not water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Annexe 2: About the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Investigations Division<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n