Recent Convictions under the Animal Protection Act
As a result of their investigations, Alberta SPCA Peace Officers lay charges on average about 18 times a year. Many prosecutions take more than a year to arrive at a verdict.
In 2020, Animal Protection Act prosecutions resulted in 6 convictions. Four cases were withdrawn and 11 cases remains before the courts. The six convictions involved numerous species of animals including horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, pigeons, and goats. The sentences included prohibition orders against owning animals in five of the the six convictions.
The Alberta SPCA maintains a full list of active prohibition orders in our jurisdiction. The list includes links with more detailed descriptions of many of the related investigations.
Here are some of the most recent convictions resulting from Alberta SPCA investigations:
Recent Convictions from Alberta SPCA investigations
Diana Bochar
March 2, 2023On March 2, 2023, Diana Bochar of Smoky Lake County pleaded guilty in provincial court to one count of allowing an animal to be in distress under the Animal Protection Act (APA). In October 2022, the Alberta SPCA receive … Read more
Karli Sitting Eagle
December 1, 2022Karli Sitting Eagle pleaded guilty to the Animal Protection Act (APA) charge of allowing an animal to be in distress, 2(1) on December 1, 2022. In October of 2021, the Alberta SPCA received a public complaint about a kit … Read more
Cheyenne Beierbach
October 4, 2022On October 4, 2022, Cheyenne Beierbach of Barons, Alberta was convicted in Provincial Court of causing an animal to be in distress under the Animal Protection Act (APA) 2(1). Ms. Beierbach was charged in December 2020 wi … Read more
Colin Edge
September 26, 2022On September 26, 2022, Colin Edge of the Rochester area pleaded guilty to allowing animals to be in distress. The Alberta SPCA received a public complaint in November of 2021 that cattle were potentially in distress due … Read more
Curtis Ring
August 16, 2022Curtis Ring pleaded guilty on August 16, 2022 for allowing an animal to be in distress under the Animal Protection Act (APA) 2(1). In January 2022, the Alberta SPCA received a public complaint about a steer that appeared … Read more
Bonnie Jean Charron
July 7, 2022On July 7, 2022, Bonnie Jean Charron pleaded guilty in provincial court to allowing an animal to be in distress. In June of 2019, the Alberta SPCA received a complaint of a sphinx kitten in distress at a veterinary clini … Read more
Active Prohibition Orders
Moore, Patricia Lynn
April 8, 2023On April 8, 2023 a prohibition order imposed by a justice of the Alberta Court of Justice came into effect against Patricia Lynn Moore. The order reads; Patricia Lynn Moore shall be on a lifetime ban from owning, caring … Read more
Bochar, Diana
March 2, 2023Diana Bochar shall not own, possess, control, board, breed or live in a residence with any animal including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, ferrets, or birds, with the exception of two pets that must be licensed, spayed … Read more
Beierbach, Cheyenne
October 4, 2022Cheyenne Fern Beierbach is prohibited from possessing, having custody or control of, or residing in the same residence as an animal for 15 years. Ms. Beierbach is permitted to possess, have custody or control of, and res … Read more
Palmer, Jamie Ann
June 21, 2022Jamie Ann Palmer entered into a common law peace bond on June 21, 2022. As part of the peace bond, Ms. Palmer must keep the peace and be of good behaviour. She shall notify the Alberta SPCA or any peace officer designate … Read more
MacKinnon, Grant D.
May 30, 2022Grant D. MacKinnon has entered into a Common Law Peace Bond, which includes a condition that he not practice equine dentistry in Alberta for a period of one year. The prohibition period is in effect from May 30, 2022 to … Read more
Moore, Patricia
April 8, 2022Patricia Moore is prohibited for life from owning, caring for, or being in possession of any equine animals. On January 27, 2023 an appeal of the conviction was dismissed in Court of King’s Bench. Ms. Moore has until Apr … Read more