Mistreated livestock in Mascouche seized by Montreal SPCA

The Montreal SPCAseized four head of cattle and three horses from a property in Mascouche, just north of Laval,Monday, saying the animals were neglected.

"The environment the animals were kept in was not at all adequate, not at all safe for them," said Sophie Gaillard, alawyer for the animal protection agencywho visited the property.

"They had no access to potable drinking water, and one of the horses was pretty severely injured and had great difficulty getting up," Gaillard said.

She said the SPCA also recovered a dead foal and some other animal remains.

The animals seized are now being cared for by the SPCA and receiving veterinary treatment.

Criminal charges

Gaillard said SPCA investigators werein touch with the owner, but he refused to co-operate, so the animals were seized.

She said the ownercould face charges under the Criminal Code, "definitely an animal neglect charge, which is the omission to give animals proper care, and perhaps a cruelty charge, which is causing unnecessary suffering to an animal."

The cruelty charge carries a possible sentence of five years, although Gaillard said prison time in such cases is extremely rare.

"Usually our main goal in these kinds of cases is to get a prohibition order, which would prohibit this person from owning animals for a certain length of time," Gaillard said.