RICK'S RANTS

Puppy brokers guilty!
Halifax News Net

" Guilty was the verdict in Digby provincial court yesterday, a decision roundly applauded by those involved in animal rescue. Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey have been on their hit list for years. The pair run Puppies 'R Us out of their Digby County home and have been the subject of many complaints over the years after dogs they sold got ill and even died. Often they would do their business from the back of a van in mall parking lots. The husband and wife team were tried on charges of animal cruelty after 10 puppies were seized from their home in the fall of '07. During the incident, Benoit threw a pup at an SPCA officer. The couple will be sentenced the end of March. The SPCA wants the two banned from ever owning or selling animals again. The courts do have the authority to impose such a ban. Let's hope the good judge throws the book at these two.

The provincial government also has to bring in tougher measures to deal with puppy mills which operate freely in Nova Scotia. That's right, there's no law declaring these operations to be illegal and no requirement for any special licensing to sell animals. Until the government cracks down, these fly by night operations will continue to thrive."

Thank you to another voice!