POLICE CASE NO. SPCA 2528/03

PROVINCE OF BC CHILLIWACK LAW COURTS

OFFENCE / INFRACTION - CAUSING ANIMAL IN DISTRESS.

JUNE 10/04

As both Karen Raffle and Victor Armstrong pleaded guilty, it was just a matter of sentencing.

Crown asked for a nominal fine $100 - $300 each with the provision that no animals under 20 lbs be allowed on the property. Crown was agreeable to 2 animals under 20 lbs so long as the animals were altered and therefore there would be no more breeding.

One of the points the defense stated was that the SPCA could have applied for a custody order though the Superior Court. If things had been done this way the SPCA would have had the right to keep the animals. But it didn't. Instead Karen Raffle paid $11,000 to the SPCA (for what it calls its seizure costs) and got her 10 dogs back and is now suing through Civil Court to get portions of her $11,000 back as she thinks she has a case.

The sentence is as follows:

1) One month for Karen to disburse of all but two of the animals under 15 lbs (the cats, rabbits, birds, dogs..... ).
2) No demand for the SPCA's involvement
The two remaining animals must be spayed or neutered.
3) No longer own any animals under the 15 lb range for 2 years only
4) Allowed to keep all animals over and above the 15lb range