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 Four cases were withdrawn and 11 cases remains before the courts.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
April Dawn Irving
December 4, 2019April Dawn Irving was convicted September 30, 2019 of four (4) offenses under the Animal Protection Act for causing distress to dogs. Ms. Irving was first charged after the Alberta SPCA removed more than 200 emaciated do … Read more
Tammy Thompson
September 23, 2019Tammy THOMPSON pleaded guilty in Provincial Court on September 19, 2019 to three charges under the Animal Protection Act for causing horses to be in distress 2(1), for failing to provide adequate food and water 2.1(a), a … Read more
Thomas Fredrick Smith
September 18, 2019On August 1, 2018 the Alberta SPCA received a complaint that a dog had been castrated by someone who did not have a licence to practice veterinary medicine. An Alberta SPCA Peace Officer attended the home near Bentley wh … Read more
Donald Crevels
August 27, 2019A southern Alberta man was fined $1,500 after abandoning dozens of chickens inside a makeshift chicken coup in the Municipal District of Foothills. The Alberta SPCA received a complaint in March of 2019 of approximately … Read more
Peter and Linda Spahr
August 23, 2019Peter Hans SPAHR and Linda C. SPAHR of the Tofield area pleaded guilty on August 21, 2019 in Vegreville Provincial Court to two counts each of causing an animal to be in distress under the Animal Protection Act (APA) 2(1 … Read more
Jagdeep Sanghera
July 10, 2019Jagdeep Sanghera pleaded guilty in Okotoks Provincial Court on July 10, 2019 to one count under the Animal Protection Act 2.1(b) of failing to provide veterinary care to an animal that is wounded or ill. In April of 2018 … Read more
Active Prohibition Orders
Jenkins, James
October 2, 2023James Jenkins of Strathcona County is prohibited from owing, possessing, controlling, boarding or living at a residence with any animals, with the exception of 20 bovines, for a period of three years. During the term of … Read more
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
