Kelowna Man at Centre of High-profile Animal Cruelty Case Pleads Guilty

April 28, 2004. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. The man at the centre of a high-profile animal cruelty case has pled guilty in a Kelowna courtroom. Gaston Lapointe, 60, received a $2,000 fine and is banned from owning or having custody of any dogs for a period of three years, with the exception of one dog currently in his possession.

On July 3, 2002, the SPCA seized 53 Malamute/Shepherd cross dogs from Lapointe's property. The dogs, who were used to produce puppies which Lapointe sold over the Internet and through newspaper ads, spent their lives chained to trees, were malnourished and were suffering from Giardia, an infectious disease caused by drinking contaminated water. Several of the dogs were pregnant at the time of the seizure and 21 puppies were born at the Kelowna SPCA. Lapointe was charged with permitting an animal to be in distress, under the provisions of the Provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Kathy Woodward, an SPCA Special Provincial Constable who was closely involved with the case, says the dogs also suffered from severe psychological problems, including an overwhelming fear of humans and of everyday sights and sounds. The dogs received extensive rehabilitation by SPCA staff, and 40 of the dogs, including the 21 puppies, were successfully adopted into new homes. Sadly, says Woodward, despite receiving daily rehabilitation for many months some of the dogs remained too traumatized by human interaction and too aggressive to be safely adopted. After several evaluations by veterinarians and animal behaviour experts the SPCA was advised to humanely euthanize the dogs.

The SPCA carries out more than 9,000 cruelty investigations each year and has launched a province-wide crackdown on puppy mills - operations where dogs are kept in abysmal conditions and are bred for profit without concern for their physical or psychological well-being.

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Further information:
Kathy Woodward, Kelowna SPCA: (250) 861-7722;
Lorie Chortyk, Community Relations Manager, BC SPCA:
(604) 647-1316, 1-800-665-1868, or 830-7179 (cell);

Beaverdell puppies before being taken to SPCA cells