Will Puppies R Us duo be banned from owning animals?
by Jeanne Whitehead/Digby Courier
The Nova Scotia SPCA wants the courts to impose a long-term ban on animal ownership in the Gail Benoit-Dana Bailey case.
Crown Attorney Rosalind Michie requested that Benoit and Bailey be prohibited from owning animals when the Puppies R Us duo was found guilty of animal cruelty Jan. 29. The charges stemmed from the October 2007 seizure of sick malnourished pups from their property.
Because Benoit and Bailey’s lawyer, Michael Power was not present in court at the time of the verdict, Judge Batiot said he could not consider imposing the ban at that time.
Crown Attorney Rosalind Michie told the Courier she will be consulting with the SPCA in considering the range of sentence that is appropriate for the pair. They could be fined, they could be prohibited from owning animals—or the sentence could be a combination of the two.
Michie said after the 2007 seizure, Benoit and Bailey were charged with animal cruelty under both the provincial act and federal act, but because the charges were essentially the same, the guilty verdict and sentencing relate only to the provincial act.
This means Benoit and Bailey could be prevented from owning animals in Nova Scotia, but should they decide to move to another province, the ban would not apply.
The couple was also charged Jan. 5 under the provincial Animal Cruelty Prevention Act and the federal Criminal Code. Those charges stem from Benoit’s 2008 sale of pups that died of parvovirus within days, or hours, or leaving her hands.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
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!
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!
Friday Funny
On a more serious note...
Protest has been set over to feb 15
mark your calenders & bring your signs ;)
--> the day before the Infamous couple plea their Jan.5/6 animal cruelty charges
Puppies R Dead !!
Puppy BAN 4 Ever!!
The Bark That Can't Be Silenced.
- In Memory of Cinni Girl
Puppy BAN 4 Ever!!
The Bark That Can't Be Silenced.
- In Memory of Cinni Girl
CTV News Coverage Jan 29, 09
Benoit january 29 2009
Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey are convicted on all counts on animal cruelty charges stemming from puppies removed from their property by the NS SPCA in October, 2007 - and an assault charge against Gail Benoit
Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey are convicted on all counts on animal cruelty charges stemming from puppies removed from their property by the NS SPCA in October, 2007 - and an assault charge against Gail Benoit
Digby County woman tells judge 'decision is ludicrous'
Gail Benoit and her husband, Dana Bailey, are to be sentenced March 26. (Brian Medel / Yarmouth Bureau)
Puppy sellers convicted of animal crueltyDIGBY — A Digby County puppy seller convicted of animal cruelty and assault Thursday launched into a tirade against the judge who handed down the decision.
"I find you guilty," Judge Jean-Louis Batiot said to Gail Benoit, 39, as she stood beside her husband, Dana Bailey.
Mr. Bailey, 46, was also convicted of animal cruelty in Digby provincial court Thursday.
"I think that your decision is . . . ludicrous," Ms. Benoit shot back at the judge before denouncing her treatment.
Judge Batiot told her to take it up with her lawyer, raising his voice to be heard.
The lawyer for the couple, Michael Power of Bridgewater, was unable to attend court because of poor weather.
Ms. Benoit and Mr. Bailey were tried last year on charges of animal cruelty stemming from the seizure of 10 puppies from their Roxville home in October 2007.
Ms. Benoit was also charged with assaulting SPCA investigator Nancy Noel while the dogs were being taken during the execution of a search warrant. Ms. Benoit was convicted on that charge Thursday.
Outside court, Ms. Noel, an SPCA special constable, said she was at the couple’s home in 2007 when Ms. Benoit suddenly chucked a puppy at her.
"She threw the puppy at me, then she stepped on my foot and shoulder-checked me," Ms. Noel said.
The couple operates a business, Puppies R’ Us, that is listed on a government website as a partnership involved in the retail sale and delivery of puppies.
The address of the couple’s blue bungalow is the same address given for the puppy company.
Some people have complained to the SPCA about puppies they have purchased from Ms. Benoit. Some of the young dogs died soon after.
Judge Batiot did not read his written decision publicly Thursday but made sure the couple received a copy.
They are expected to be sentenced March 26.
As Judge Batiot announced his decision, Ms. Benoit seemed to have a hard time accepting her fate.
"This is going to be all over the Internet," she said, interrupting the judge.
Ms. Benoit also brought a couple of letter-sized sheets of paper and waved them toward the judge.
"This has got to stop," she said, reading "wanted . . . dead or alive" from one of the pieces of paper that appeared to be a mock wanted poster of Ms. Benoit.
When the judge told her to talk to her lawyer about it, she turned on her heel and left with her husband.
"Pay no mind to ’em. . . . Keep going. Keep going," Mr. Bailey said as his wife continued to spout off.
"Everybody beware. The SPCA are corrupt," she warned courtroom observers.
"Yeah, they’re crooks," added Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Bailey also indicated he was not interested in returning to court.
"There will be no sentence date," he said loud enough to be heard in the public gallery as they left in a huff.
Roger Joyce, another SPCA investigator in court Thursday, said his organization will push to ban the couple from owning or keeping animals.
N.S. couple found guilty in notorious animal cruelty case
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Thu. Jan 29 - 3:58 PM
DIGBY — A Nova Scotia judge convicted Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey of animal cruelty today after a trial last November in Digby provincial court.
Judge Jean-Louis Batiot also convicted Ms. Benoit of assaulting an SPCA constable.
The couple had been tried on charges of animal cruelty stemming from the seizure of 10 pups from their home near Digby in October of 2007.
They have been accused of selling sick puppies.
Ms. Benoit seemed to have a hard time accepting her fate today when Judge Batiot announced his decision.
“This is going to be all over the Internet,” she said, interrupting the judge.
Ms. Benoit also brought a couple of letter-sized sheets of paper and waved them toward the judge.
“This has got to stop,” she said, reading, “Wanted ... dead or alive,” from one of the pieces of paper which appeared to be a mock "Wanted" poster with Ms. Benoit as the fugitive.
When the judge told her to talk to her lawyer about it, she turned on her heel and left with her husband.
The couple's lawyer, Michael Power of Bridgewater, was unable to attend court because of poor weather.
The couple will return to court on March 26 for sentencing
Thu. Jan 29 - 3:58 PM
DIGBY — A Nova Scotia judge convicted Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey of animal cruelty today after a trial last November in Digby provincial court.
Judge Jean-Louis Batiot also convicted Ms. Benoit of assaulting an SPCA constable.
The couple had been tried on charges of animal cruelty stemming from the seizure of 10 pups from their home near Digby in October of 2007.
They have been accused of selling sick puppies.
Ms. Benoit seemed to have a hard time accepting her fate today when Judge Batiot announced his decision.
“This is going to be all over the Internet,” she said, interrupting the judge.
Ms. Benoit also brought a couple of letter-sized sheets of paper and waved them toward the judge.
“This has got to stop,” she said, reading, “Wanted ... dead or alive,” from one of the pieces of paper which appeared to be a mock "Wanted" poster with Ms. Benoit as the fugitive.
When the judge told her to talk to her lawyer about it, she turned on her heel and left with her husband.
The couple's lawyer, Michael Power of Bridgewater, was unable to attend court because of poor weather.
The couple will return to court on March 26 for sentencing
Thursday, January 29, 2009
GUILTY! Brokers to be sentenced Mar. 26
Benoit, Bailey guilty of animal cruelty, assault
Digby County puppy brokers to be sentenced Mar. 26 by Jeanne Whitehead/Digby Courier
Article online since January 29th 2009, 10:51
Benoit, Bailey guilty of animal cruelty, assault
Digby County puppy brokers to be sentenced Mar. 26
Digby County puppy brokers Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey were found guilty, today, Jan. 29, on two counts of animal cruelty stemming from the October 2007 seizure of 10 puppies from their Roxville property.
Gail Benoit was also found guilty of assaulting SPCA special constable Nancy Noel at the time of the seizure.
Dangerous road conditions prevented Benoit and Bailey’s lawyer, Mike Powers, from attending court and Judge Jean Louis Batiot advised that sentencing will take place March 26.
The 2007 seizure of 10 sick and malnourished puppies by Nova Scotia SPCA chief investigator Roger Joyce and special constable Nancy Noel followed complaints filed with the SPCA.
Both Noel and Joyce were present for Judge Batiot’s verdict and say they hope Benoit and Bailey will be prohibited from owning animals. Such an injunction could conceivably come prior to the March 26 sentencing date.
Joyce says he makes frequent checks on people who are prohibited from owning animals.
In addition to the charges from the 2007 seizure, Benoit and Bailey face animal cruelty charges filed three weeks ago—relating to their 2008 sale of puppies infected with the deadly parvovirus.
Gail Benoit addressed Judge Batiot after he read the verdict. “This has got to stop,” she said. “My family is terrified and people have threatened to burn my house down.”
“The SPCA is corrupt,” she said, as she left the courtroom.
The SPCA's Nancy Noel and Roger Joyce made the trip to Digby, on ice-covered roads, to hear the guilty verdict against puppy brokers Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey. Jeanne Whitehead photo
Digby County puppy brokers to be sentenced Mar. 26 by Jeanne Whitehead/Digby Courier
Article online since January 29th 2009, 10:51
Benoit, Bailey guilty of animal cruelty, assault
Digby County puppy brokers to be sentenced Mar. 26
Digby County puppy brokers Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey were found guilty, today, Jan. 29, on two counts of animal cruelty stemming from the October 2007 seizure of 10 puppies from their Roxville property.
Gail Benoit was also found guilty of assaulting SPCA special constable Nancy Noel at the time of the seizure.
Dangerous road conditions prevented Benoit and Bailey’s lawyer, Mike Powers, from attending court and Judge Jean Louis Batiot advised that sentencing will take place March 26.
The 2007 seizure of 10 sick and malnourished puppies by Nova Scotia SPCA chief investigator Roger Joyce and special constable Nancy Noel followed complaints filed with the SPCA.
Both Noel and Joyce were present for Judge Batiot’s verdict and say they hope Benoit and Bailey will be prohibited from owning animals. Such an injunction could conceivably come prior to the March 26 sentencing date.
Joyce says he makes frequent checks on people who are prohibited from owning animals.
In addition to the charges from the 2007 seizure, Benoit and Bailey face animal cruelty charges filed three weeks ago—relating to their 2008 sale of puppies infected with the deadly parvovirus.
Gail Benoit addressed Judge Batiot after he read the verdict. “This has got to stop,” she said. “My family is terrified and people have threatened to burn my house down.”
“The SPCA is corrupt,” she said, as she left the courtroom.
The SPCA's Nancy Noel and Roger Joyce made the trip to Digby, on ice-covered roads, to hear the guilty verdict against puppy brokers Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey. Jeanne Whitehead photo
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