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 Four cases were withdrawn and 11 cases remains before the courts.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
Jim Onyschuk
November 5, 2018Jim Onyschuk pleaded guilty on November 5, 2018 to one charge under the Animal Protection Act of causing cattle to be in distress. He was fined $2,000. Onyschuk is prohibited for life from owning more than 30 cattle, eff … Read more
Martin Decker
September 14, 2017Decker pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Protection Act for causing or allowing hogs to be in distress. He was fined $1,500.
Linda Heikel
June 22, 2017Linda Heikel pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Protection Act for failing to provide proper care for horses. She was fined $1,000 and is prohibited for life from having ownership, charge, care or control of h … Read more
Richard Jacob Smith
June 22, 2017Richard Jacob Smith pleaded guilty on June 22, 2017 to one charge under the Animal Protection Act for failing to provide proper care for horses. He was fined $1,000 and is prohibited for life from having ownership, charg … Read more
Gary Sparshu
December 13, 2016Sparshu pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Protection Act for causing or allowing horses to be in distress and one charge of violating a previous prohibition order. He was fined a total of $6,650 and prohibite … Read more
Janice Bourdon
November 9, 2016Bourdon was found guilty of two charges under the Animal Protection Act for failing to provide proper care for horses. She was fined $2,000, ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and is prohibited for 10 years from owning … 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
