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 Four cases were withdrawn and 11 cases remains before the courts.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
James Jenkins
October 2, 2023On October 2, 2023, James Jenkins of Strathcona County pleaded guilty to causing distress to cattle. Peace Officers attended Mr. Jenkins property December 22, 2021 after receiving public complaints that animals were in d … Read more
Keagan Darcy Stanley
July 23, 2023Keagan Darcy Stanley of Fort Saskatchewan pleaded guilty in July 2023 to both Animal Protection Act and Criminal Code of Canada charges in relation to the distress of a Shih Tzu named Bella. The charges related to two se … Read more
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
Active Prohibition Orders
CHALIFOUR, Taigan
January 18, 2021Taigan Chalifour is prohibited from owning any form of livestock in care or keeping for a period of 10 years. Chalifour can maintain household pets but none are to be in the definition of livestock. This prohibition orde … Read more
Elder, Sherry
December 8, 2020Sherry Elder is prohibited from owning livestock for a period of 10 years. In that time, the Alberta SPCA has the right to inspect animals on her property without warrant. This prohibition order is in effect until Decemb … Read more
Ogle, Charlene
November 18, 2020Charlene Ogle is prohibited from owning or having custody of control of, or residing in the same premises as any animal or bird for a period of 5 years. Ms. Ogle shall permit and facilitate reasonable access to her resid … Read more
Barrette, Henri (Sean)
February 26, 2020Henri (Sean) Barrette is prohibited from owning, possessing, having custody care or control of, or reside in the same premises as horses or cattle for 10 years. Mr. Barrette must permit a Peace Officer, without notice or … Read more
NAPIO, Channing
February 13, 2020Channing Napio is prohibited from owning any animals for a period of two years. The Court also granted the Alberta SPCA or RCMP inspection rights of Mr. Napio’s property for a period of four years to check on the welfare … Read more
Irving, April
December 4, 2019April Dawn Irving is prohibited from owning dogs in Alberta for the rest of her life.
