Clearly, the System Needs Improvement

Animals need our protection
The Guardian
Published on October 8th, 2010

The Wheatley court case points to the need for a review of the province's animal protection laws
Topics :
Department of Agriculture , Humane Society , Covehead , Prince Edward Island , Charlottetown
The name Lloyd (Bud) Wheatley has been persona non grata among Prince Edward Island animal lovers for several years. The proceedings in a Charlottetown courtroom this week confirmed all their worst fears.
Mr. Wheatley pleaded guilty to five charges under the Canadian Criminal Code and two charges under the P.E.I. Companion Animal Protection Act.
The charges arise from the seizure of over 80 companion animals by the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture. The animals were on a property in Covehead where Mr. Wheatley had been operating the online pet retail company Puppies Across Canada.
Provincial court Judge Nancy Orr sentenced Mr. Wheatley to five months in jail for causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to animals. In addition, she ordered him to pay a $200 fine and cover $68,000 in expenses incurred by the Agriculture Department during the seizure of the animals.
By all accounts the scene in Covehead wasn’t a pretty one. P.E.I. Humane Society shelter veterinarian Dr. Danielle Dunn-MacLean said the sickest animals were some of the worst cases of dehydration and emaciation she had ever seen.
Some of the animals seized had to be put down. And at least one died before medical attention could be provided. But thanks to the quick reaction of the Humane Society, most of the animals recovered and were adopted into new homes.
As important as Mr. Wheatley’s conviction and sentence are, in terms of sending a strong message out against animal cruelty, so too are some of the questions asked by Judge Orr.
She questioned how Mr. Wheatley, the former owner of Snookums pet store, was allowed to carry on his business for 15 months without a licence. She also asked how he was allowed to let the health of his animals deteriorate to the point where some of them had to be euthanized.
According to what the court was told, apparently Mr. Wheatley did so by simply ignoring recommendations made to him after a number of animal health inspections were carried out. But the threats and recommendations didn’t work and an unbearable situation was allowed to fester far too long. Which means the department needs to be armed with more powers and the ability to move more quickly in the future.
Reacting to the court sentence, the Humane Society said it sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated on P.E.I. Executive director Kelly Mullally said the society looks forward to working with the Department of Agriculture to review and revise its current legislation.
Mr. Wheatley’s defence counsel said he didn’t intend to allow things to get so out of hand but he had difficulty getting and keeping staff, and in the end the problem overwhelmed him. If that was the case, and he truly believed in animal rights and their welfare, he should have put up a white flag and asked for help.
The case has shown a weakness in the province’s animal protection laws. For the sake of the animals who have suffered, a positive outcome would be a review of the laws and improvements where necessary.