Question:
Yet one more reason why we should spay/neuter our animal companions. Also a prime example of why 'free to good home' ads in local papers are never a good idea.

This guy got the two kittens from a woman who hadn't bothered spaying her cat and had placed one of those idiotic 'free to good home' ads in her local paper to get rid of the kittens.

I couldn't be attend his arraignment the other day, but plan to be there on August 22 and for the trial if there is one.

From http://www.hfxnews.com/index.cfm?sid=6088&sc=1

Accused cat castrator draws crowd at court

By Lindsay Jones
The Daily News

COURT - The man accused of snipping off a kitten's testicles and part of its penis was arraigned in court yesterday on four charges of animal cruelty.
Dennis Perreault was charged with two counts each of animal cruelty under the provincial Animal Cruelty Prevention Act and the Criminal Code. The 38-year-old from Herring Cove Road allegedly castrated a seven-week-old kitten with scissors and no anesthetic nearly a month ago.
Perreault acquired the kitten and its feline sister after responding to a classified newspaper ad, offering free kittens.
The kittens were seized after the SPCA received a complaint. The male kitten was immediately taken to a vet and charges were laid.
Emergency surgery initially saved the kitten's life, but four days after it was seized, the kitten succumbed to infection.
After his arraignment yesterday, Perreault left Halifax provincial court surrounded by reporters, photographers and concerned citizens. As he left, The Daily News asked the diminutive man if he had harmed the kitten.
"No," Perreault said. He didn't elaborate, saying only, "I don't want to talk to you."
According to court records, Perreault was charged twice in 2002 for public nudity. In both cases, however, the charges were dropped.
Perreault didn't have a lawyer yesterday, and will be back in court to enter a plea Aug. 22.
SPCA spokeswoman Judith Gass was in court yesterday. She said she'd like animal cruelty laws to have more teeth.
"We've been trying for years to get stiffer penalties and put these types of animal cruelty charges in a different portion of the code," said Gass. "But we certainly haven't been successful."
The maximum penalty for the summary offence would be six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The white-nosed, black kitten captured hearts all over the province. Many called the animal hospital and SPCA, offering to adopt it or give cash toward its medical treatment.
Animal-rights activist Caroline Barsellotti attended the arraignment yesterday to see the case unfold in court.
"It certainly makes the case for people (not to) give up their kittens free to a good home. You cannot guarantee what's going to happen to the animal if you keep allowing kittens to come into existence and then donate them like that."
The Halifax woman said the crime was shocking.

"It's really quite alarming. You'd never do that to a human. Why would it ever occur to somebody that they can save a few bucks by doing it themselves at home?
"It's not a haircut."
Lucinda MacLeod, who runs a non-profit cat shelter in Sackville, came to court on Spring Garden Road yesterday because she was touched by the case.
"I just feel so bad for the little kitten. We have a litter that same age," said the woman, clutching a stuffed black and white cat. "He looks like him."


Answer:
Someone should castrate him without any anesthetic.


Answer:
So sick...


Answer:
I'd really like to see more attention given to the woman who put the 'Free to good home' advert in the paper. I'd be interested to hear what answers she would give if she were asked why her cat was unspayed and allowed to get pregnant, and why she thought it was a good idea to give kittens (that were a direct consequence of her irresponsible behaviour) to total strangers answering a newspaper advert. Honestly, in this day and age, you'd think people would be smarter than that.


Answer:
im not quite as upset that someone might attempt an at home castration(if they knew something about what they are doing) but to snip off part of the PENIS????????? christ!!!! can anyone say dumbas s LOSER?


Answer:
Well, the alleged kitten castrator appeared in Court again today for his second attempt at arraignment. Last time the arraignment was stayed because he hadn't yet retained a lawyer. Today he still hadn't, but had an "appointment" with a lawyer So it's been stayed again. His third attempt at arraignment will be October 11th at 1:30 p.m.

Myself and my friend Lisa attended representing PETA, and afterwards the CTV reporter, Elizabeth Chui, asked if she could interview us. I guess she wanted to get the "extremist terrorist firebomber" views on the issue. Anyway, it was my first television interview, so hopefully if they air it on the news tonight I won't look like a total idiot


Answer:
That makes me physically ill to think someone could do that. I do not for the life of me understand why people don't get their pets spayed or neutered. I really think that it should someway be enforced and breeders would have to apply for a permit to breed their animals. But I guess there's no realistic way of doing this...

Banshee, I hope your interview goes well tonight. For those of us who wont be able to see it, what did she ask and what did you say?


Answer:
I'm in total agreement with you. I believe some states in the US have passed mandatory spay/neuter laws. We definitely need that here, with free clinics or discount clinics for people who can't afford the surgeries. I know - it's sickening how irresponsible people can be. I can understand a person not being able to afford an unexpected $3,000 surgery, but spay/neuter and vaccinations are basic expenses. Many vets will arrange payment plans and I believe the SPCA will give discounts if a person meets certain criteria. My personal opinion is that if a person can't afford - or doesn't want to pay for - basic care for a pet they should not have that pet. That may be viewed as extreme, but I temper that with supporting a program that would spay/neuter for free or with a discount for low income families.

She asked how we felt about the further adjournment, to which Lisa and I agreed that he was milking the system, stalling matters. He's been through the court system before, so he knows he can have two stays. It doesn't take that long to retain a lawyer, even if he's waiting for legal aid.

I told her that although what happened to the kitten is tragic, it's a symptom of a larger problem, which is the way society regards animals, in this particular case, companion animals. The woman from whom he got the kittens (he'd also taken a female from the woman) had a female cat, didn't bother to get her spayed, allowed her to get pregnant, then tried to rehome the babies through 'free to good home' ads, which is basically putting the kittens into the hands of unscreened strangers.

Lisa talked about how outdated the animal cruelty laws are in this country and this province and how offenders basically get a slap on the wrist.

Personally, I would like to see more attention paid to that woman. That poor kitten (and the others, because god only knows what happened to them) had to pay for her irresponsibility and, quite frankly, stupidity.

I saw the newscast awhile ago and there was a bit of me at the very end - I think my interview ended up on the cutting room floor But it was good experience - that was the first television interview I've done and I need the practice because I know it won't be my last.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Banshee
My personal opinion is that if a person can't afford - or doesn't want to pay for - basic care for a pet they should not have that pet. That may be viewed as extreme, but I temper that with supporting a program that would spay/neuter for free or with a discount for low income families.
I totally agree with you on this, Bridget. I'm glad you got the opportunity to put your views across, even if not much of the interview aired. Did you get a chance to tape your portion?


Answer:
Originally Posted by Mollymitten
Did you get a chance to tape your portion?
No, they just had a quick shot of me on there, chatting with the reporter and Lisa - didn't actually show me being gobby