Ontario Court Convicts Individual of Animal Welfare Offence

An individual has been convicted of an offence under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 (PAWS Act).

On July 14, 2026, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham, Ryan Robert Phelps was found guilty of permitting an animal to be in distress contrary to section 15(2). Phelps was fined $1,500 and is prohibited from owning, having custody or care of, or living with any animal for five years.

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 January 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 2026, Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services issued more than 18,900 distress orders, laid over 2,500 charges for offences under the PAWS Act and removed over 15,900 animals from situations of distress negatively impacting their welfare.