Brandon man facing 16 animal cruelty charges: police

A man from Brandon, Man., is facing multiple animal cruelty charges after the carcasses of more than a dozen kittens and rabbits were found in his home, according to police.

The Brandon Police Service said in a news release Wednesday the 28-year-old was arrested Tuesday on 16 counts of animal cruelty and 18 charges of failing to comply with an undertaking.

The man had previously appeared in court on Aug. 15 of this year on charges from June of injuring or endangering animals, Brandon police public information officer Kirby Sararas said Wednesday.

A condition of his release was that he was not allowed to have animals, Sararas said.

But Brandon police said they were notified Tuesday by the Chief Veterinary Office that the man was in possession of animals, contrary to the release conditions that he was not to have any.

"There were several people in the community that saw some concerning behaviour ... as they'd both recently given him kittens," Sararas said.

They notified the veterinary office, "who were aware that [the man] was not to be in possession of animals," she said.

An investigation into the complaint led to the discovery of the 16 dead kittens and rabbits at the man's residence, Sararas said.

Two living kittens were taken to a local veterinary clinic for care.

A necropsy will be completed by the Chief Veterinary Office to determine how the animals died. Sararas could not say how long that will take.

Animal cruelty complaints in Brandon are "extremely rare," Sararas said, and she could not remember a recent report of a similar crime.

Stricter animal abuse laws needed: Humane Society

The director of the Brandon Humane Society says the cases of abuse neglect the animal shelter sees demonstrate the need for tighter laws across Canada.

"It's horrifying," said Tracy Munn. "This abuse, it hurts us all."

Bylaws are needed not just in cities, but in smaller communities as well, she said.

"We all have to follow under these same laws.… There have to be strict regulations."

One of the shelter's current residents, a dog named Valour, lost a front leg due to neglect and abuse, Munn said. Veterinarians also believe he had been shot before being rescued.

Munn said no charges were laid in connection with the abuse the dog suffered.

She said to the best of her knowledge, Manitoba has some of the strictest animal care legislation in Canada, with penalities for violations that can include fines, bans on pet ownership and potential jail time.

But Munn believes more needs to be done.

"Could you imagine what kind of cruelty takes an innocent little animal and does terrible things to them?" she said.

"Anybody that abuses needs to go to jail … cut and dry. It's black and white for me."

Animal welfare laws in the United States are getting stricter, Munn said, and she expects Canadian laws will follow suit. She added these changes will be spurred as people learn more about animal abuse or see it on social media.

In response to CBC's request for an interview with Manitoba's chief veterinarian officer, a provincial spokesperson said the chief vet is aware of the Brandon case.

Brandon police are leading the investigation and the province "will continue to provide assistance in whatever capacity is required," the spokesperson said in a written statement.