North Bay court fines two people $25K each for animal welfare offences

A man and woman have each been fined $25,000 for causing distress to animals by a judge in North Bay and are banned from ever owning animals again. (File)

A man and woman have each been fined $25,000 for causing distress to animals by a judge in North Bay and are banned from ever owning animals again.

Joshua Parker and Donna Parker-Lavigne were convicted June 24 in the Ontario Court of Justice of offences under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.

They were found guilty of permitting distress to animals and failing to give reasonable assistance to an animal welfare inspector conducting an inspection.

“They were each fined $25,000, given suspended sentences and are permanently prohibited from owning, having custody or care of or residing with any animals,” Ontario’s Solicitor General’s office said in a news release.

Conditions to suspended sentences

No details of the offences were released, including what species of animals were involved.

The two were also ordered not to commit similar offences again, “including any indictable offence under Canadian federal or provincial law.”

They must also appear before the court when required and notify the court of they have a change of address.

“The defendants shall allow Animal Welfare Services to perform two inspections per year to ensure compliance with the PAWS Act and its regulations, their probation order and any animal prohibition order,” the release said.

“Cruelty to any animal is not tolerated in Ontario.”

If you think any animal is in distress or being abused, call 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).

The PAWS Act came into effect Jan. 1, 2020, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a full provincial animal welfare enforcement system to enhance animal safety.

As of June 2025, Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services have issued more than 15,900 distress orders, laid more than 2,000 charges for offences under the act and removed more than 12,900 animals from situations of distress negatively impacting their welfare.