Two people have been convicted in a Chatham-Kent courtroom, accused of running a puppy mill.
Peter Wiebe and Aganetha Wiebe pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in the municipality of Chatham-Kent on January 8th to four charges under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services, or PAWS Act. The charges include two counts of operating a puppy mill, permitting distress, and failing to comply with an order.
These are the first convictions under Ontario’s new Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act.
Peter Wiebe was fined a total of $5,000, exclusive of the Victim Fine Surcharge and was ordered to pay restitution of $11,486.66 for the cost of providing food, treatment and care for the dogs that were impacted by the offences.
Both accused have also been issued a lifetime ban on breeding or selling puppies and operating a kennel in Ontario, as well being prohibited from owning any domestic animal for one year.
The term “puppy mill” is used to describe a dog breeder that engages in poor breeding practices such as the breeding of dogs in substandard conditions.
The PAWS Act came into effect January 1, 2020, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a full provincial animal welfare enforcement system to enhance animal safety.
Between January 2020 and December 2024, Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services issued more than 14,200 distress orders, laid over 1,300 charges for offences under the PAWS Act and removed over 10,700 animals from situations of distress negatively impacting their welfare.
Cruelty to any animal is not tolerated in Ontario. If an animal is in distress or being abused, call 1-833-9-ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625.)
