The former owner of the St-Édouard Zoo, Normand Trahan, admitted his guilt to criminal animal welfare offenses by paying nearly $ 7,000 in fines.
The 71-year-old man will also not be able to own animals for a period of 5 years, with the exception of pets, under an order pronounced Wednesday at the Trois-Rivières courthouse. .
Criminal charges had also been filed against Normand Trahan. The man who had been in charge of this Mauricie zoo for about 30 years was accused of causing suffering and injury to animals, including birds, and of failing to provide them with water, food and necessary care. The alleged acts were committed between May 2016 and October 2018.
These Criminal Code charges were, however, dropped by the prosecution as part of the overall settlement of this case.
It was in response to a report of mistreatment lodged by visitors to the St-Édouard Zoo that animal protection officers from the Montreal SPCA’s Investigations Office began to investigate the premises in 2018.
Zebras, monkeys, camels, kangaroos, lions, tigers and bears were subsequently seized in 2019.
On Wednesday morning, the SPCA declared itself satisfied with the outcome.
“The offenses to which Mr. Trahan pleaded guilty concern the conditions in which the animals were kept at the St-Édouard Zoo, in particular with regard to the facilities, which were inadequate and unsanitary, and the lack of veterinary care when the animals were injured or sick, ”Chantal Cayer, director of the Investigations Office of the Montreal SPCA, explained in a press release.
More than 200 seized animals have been permanently placed in other facilities, the SPCA said.