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BC petting zoo owner charged with 24 counts of animal cruelty

REVELSTOKE (NEWS 1130) – The owner of a petting zoo in Revelstoke has been charged with two dozen counts of animal cruelty.

Marcie Moriarty with the BC SPCA says 15 animals were removed from the property in July, 2017. “This included one deceased pig, five horses, three pigs, a lamb, an alpaca, a goat, a peacock, and two mini-horses.”

“These animals were suffering from lack of adequate food, shelter, and veterinary care,” she claims. “What was particularly disturbing about this case is the fact that this individual was making a living off of these animals.”

She tells us all but one of the animals have been adopted into new homes. “We are still looking for a home for the goat, but we are hopeful that a new guardian will be found soon.”

The 24 counts against James Richard Bruvall, who is the owner of the Revelstoke Petting Zoo, are a combination of charges under the Criminal Code and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

If convicted, Bruvall could face up to five years in jail, a $75,000 fine and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals.

“A Criminal Code conviction… holds a bit more clout. It applies across Canada,” says Moriarty. “For instance, if Mr. Bruvall was convicted under the Criminal Code and received, say, a ban on owning animals, it would mean he could not then move to Alberta and open up a petting zoo.”

“If it’s simply under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, we’ve had cases where people are banned in BC, but they simply set up shop in another province.”

 

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