Calgary - A 36-year-old woman was fined $7,000, the highest such fine ever imposed according to the Calgary Humane Society. It is believed the judge took the commercial aspect of the neglect into account in sentencing.
Ashely Onen appeared in Calgary Provincial Court yesterday. She had pleaded guilty to one charge of causing distress to an animal under Alberta's Animal Protection Act in January. After her plea of guilty, charges she was facing under the Criminal Code were withdrawn by the Crown.
Judge Peter Barley also banned the 36-year-old from owning animals for the next 10 years, other than the four healthy dogs she now has.
Although the Calgary Humane Society described the investigation into the activities of Ashley Onen 'complex,' it was a relatively simple scam. The woman would obtain dogs that were advertised on Kijiji as being free to someone who would give the pet a good home. Onen obtained two puppies this way and then using different names, she advertised the pets for sale on Kijiji. The two puppies she sold this way had been neglected; they suffered from malnutrition, had matted hair and had not received proper veterinary care.
On Oct. 30, 2010, Onen obtained two Bichon/Shih Tzu puppies from Linda Renfrew. Renfrew had placed an ad on Kijiji, offering the puppies for free to someone who would give them a good home.
In January 2011, Onen, using the name Linda McKenzie, placed an ad on Kijiji offering the puppies for sale for $400 each. Both five-month-old puppies were given the name S'Mores. Onen received two responses to her ad.
On Feb. 4, 2011, she sold the two puppies to two women in different parts of a Calgary shopping centre. One purchaser immediately noticed the dog's poor condition and went to the Calgary Humane Society. The puppy was found to be malnourished and according to the facts read in to support the guilty plea, they had been starved since Onen first acquired them.
The second woman came forward after seeing the humane society's press release about the first dog.
When police went to Onen's home they found eight dogs. Four smaller breed dogs were found in poor condition while four others were healthy.
During sentencing, Judge Barley said, 'She is remorseful and has a good work record but has financial difficulties. A psychological report says she has narcissistic features but no personality disorders.' Barley also found taking the four healthy dogs away from Onen would be harmful to her and the dogs.
Brad Nichols, of the Calgary Humane Society, said there are lessons to be learned from this when purchasing an animal. He said, 'Make sure that these animals are ethically sourced, and that you're able to visit the place where the animals were bred or living. If you're buying an animal out of the back of a truck, that is probably a red flag.'
Nichols also said it is not a good idea to give pets away for free as people who acquire them may not place much value on the animals.
Onen must pay the $7,000 fine by April 30, 2015.
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