Marineland animal cruelty case put off, back in court in February

Marineland will be back in Niagara Falls, Ont., court on Feb. 23 to face 11 charges of animal cruelty.

Lawyers for the tourist attraction appeared briefly in provincial offences court Thursday before the case was adjourned to next month.

The facility faces charges after the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals laid five animal cruelty counts last year, then added six more earlier this month.

The allegations say Marinelandpermitted certain zoo land animals elk, red deer and fallow deer to be in distress and failed to comply with the prescribed standards of care.

"We want to reassure the public that the [OSPCA]will continue to make sure these animals are getting the care they require," saidSteve Toy, OSPCA senior inspector, in a news release in early January.

Marinelanddismisses the allegations, accusing the animal welfare agency of acting on behalf of "a band of discredited activists."

The tourist attraction was charged with five counts of animal cruelty in late November allegedly involving a peacock, guinea hens and American black bears.