More animals abandoned this moving day

Posted By: Jason Mayoff · 7/3/2012 8:16:00 AM

It happens every year on Moving Day, and this year is no different.

People moving from one place to another have abandoned their pets either leaving them outside to fend for themselves or in some cases inside the home they're leaving for the next tenant or owner to find.

The SPCA's Alanna Devine says someone who does that could face criminal charges. She says abandoning an animal in distress, without food or water in an apartment or outside without food, water or shelter is actionable under the criminal code.

"Certainly in those cases," she says, " we do try to retrace the former owners or tenants of the property and find them and do whatever we can with respect to the criminal code."

Devine says the law is difficult to enforce because they have to prove criminal intent, which she says is complicated in any case involving neglect.

Alanna Devine says there's been about a 15 per cent increase in the number of animals being taken to the SPCA this year.

Photos: Petfinder

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  1. Terri posted on 07/03/2012 10:57 AM
    What kind of people abondon their pets? Time to encourage people to adopt these abondoned pets. I would like to adopt one more cat, have the cat sterilized and most importantly keep the cat indoors in my private residence. Unfortunately with the new Ville de Brossard bylaw, I am only allowed to keep two cats and two dogs. No other combination permitted? This new bylaw was created, according to the mayor, in conjunction with the SPCA. Which SPCA is not mentioned. There was no full public consulation. There was a committe with a few select citizens but again we do not have their names or their qualifications. Feeding the abondoned stray cats is not permitted. Does this bylaw ban the selling of unsterilized pets in Brossard pet stores? How many of the kittens sold in the pet store at the Place Portebello shopping center are now stray abondoned cats. Does this bylaw create low cost sterilization programs so that abondoned cats will not procreate? The previous bylaw did not place a limit on pet ownership but did allow the city to act on a nuisance complaint. Hopefully the city will reconsider this bylaw and allow for full public consultation. Finally, which society for the prevention of cruelty to animals was involved in the creation of this misguided bylaw?
  2. kat posted on 07/03/2012 03:16 PM
    Like seriously what the hell is wrong with people. These animals our your pets. They have loved you unconditionally and this is how they are repaid.....By being left in a house with no food or water or abandoned on the street to get killed or run over. People really make me sick...... I am someone who takes in these animals i cant even count how many abandoned cats i have found in my area. I try to find them good homes or even keep them myself which makes me have more animals then a should but last thing i do is bring them to the SPCA. They have so much to deal with already most of them dont find homes.........and well u know what happens after that. Their should be a criminal law for these people and a hefty fine for people that leave their animals behind.. It really just isnt fair and i hope the people that do these things get back what is coming to them...........
  3. athena mercier posted on 07/04/2012 12:08 AM
    I cannot finish reading the article just heartbreaking!!! Why do laws take so long to enforce. People have been complaining so long about neglect abuse of our dogs and cats and still nothing is being done ..............disgraceful
    1. Jon posted on 07/04/2012 10:06 AM
      @athena mercier If we can't convict a child killer racing down a street then don't hold any hope for an animal abuser.
  4. DeborahI posted on 07/04/2012 12:07 PM
    I agree with Jon. There needs to be a revamp on laws as it seems people are getting away with murder, abanding pets etc. Its sad and very heartbreaking but until the government changes laws this is going to keep on happening.
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