The co-owner of the sled dog company and partner of Simard, Élisabeth Leclerc, was acquitted of the charges against her.
Judge Hubert Couture rendered his decision on Friday. With the evidence presented to him, the magistrate believes that Leclerc had no control over the management of the dogs, which does not make her responsible for their treatment.
The prosecutor, Me Annie Bastarache, said she was satisfied with the verdict rendered. She hopes that this judgment will send a message to all managers of companies with animals in their care.
“I think it’s a judgment that has the potential to denounce the mistreatment of animals,” she notes.
Édouard Parent, employee of the Expedition Mi-Loup kennel (Jocelyn Riendeau/Archives Le Soleil)
The trio was accused of wanton killing, unnecessary suffering and failing to provide food and water to dogs at a kennel for nearly 15 years. Expedition Mi-Loup, based on Île d’Orléans, has today ceased its activities and donated its entire pack.
During the trial, which took place over several weeks last February, Édouard Parent was acquitted of one count, that of having failed to provide water and food to the dogs, due to lack of evidence. .
Parent, who was Simard’s employee for more than ten years, helped his boss put down at least a hundred dogs. He is guilty of two counts of animal cruelty, while Simard is guilty of three counts. The maximum sentence for each offense is five years.
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