N.S. SPCA upset after woman fined $5 for drowning stray kittens

WINDSOR, N.S. — The Nova Scotia SPCA is expressing outrage after a Hants County woman was fined $5 after pleading guilty to drowning a couple of stray kittens.

Society official Sean Kelly says the small fine is "a slap in the face" to the SPCA and does nothing to help efforts to promote the humane treatment of animals. Kelly is also upset because he says the Crown prosecutor in the case blamed the organization for neglecting to take in the strays.

But Kelly says that stray animals are primarily dealt with by animal control, which is a municipal responsibility.

He says the SPCA's mandate is the prevention of cruelty.

Kelly says there's clearly a need to educate prosecutors on the respective responsibilities of his organization and the municipalities.

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