CORNWALL, Ontario – Susanne Donaldson of Morrisburg, Ont., last month pleaded guilty to three counts of animal cruelty under the Ontario SPCA Act.
The charges included: causing distress to an animal, permitting distress to an animal and failing to provide veterinary medical attention.
On Sept. 3, 2014, the Ontario SPCA received a call concerning a sick dog and very young puppies.
An Ontario SPCA Investigator arrived at the Morrisburg address and was met by Donaldson, who explained she had just returned from an animal hospital where her female dog had been euthanized. Donaldson explained that her three-year-old Boxer had given birth to 11 puppies five days earlier, and had not been eating or drinking for the past several days.
Donaldson stated that the veterinarian had explained that her dog had a retained placenta and was in very poor condition. Of the 11 puppies, only seven were still alive. Three were stillborn and one died on Sunday according to Donaldson.
The remaining seven puppies were foul smelling with open and swollen wounds on their tails from elastics Donaldson had put on them several days earlier in an attempt to amputate the tails. Donaldson voluntarily surrendered the puppies to the Ontario SPCA. The deceased female Boxer was found to be in poor physical condition and was emaciated.
The puppies were taken to a veterinary hospital, examined and provided with the care they required. Over the next several days, the puppies received 24-hour care in a foster home, including frequent veterinary care, however the puppies failed to thrive and unfortunately died.
Susanne Donaldson was sentenced to a $500 fine, placed on probation for two years, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $120.68. Donaldson was also prohibited from owning animals for five years. Ontario SPCA officers were granted access to her property to ensure compliance with the prohibition order.
“There is no excuse to let an animal go without proper veterinary medical attention,” says Steve Toy, Senior Inspector. “To report cruelty please call 310-SPCA or email your concern to cruelty@ospca.on.ca.”
