Ontario Court Convicts Individuals of Animal Welfare Offences

Two individuals have been convicted of offences under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 (PAWS Act).

On July 22, 2026, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Blenheim, Joyce Electra Theriault and Russell Jacob Clendenning were found guilty of permitting an animal to be in distress contrary to section 15(2). Theriault was also found guilty of failing to comply with prescribed standards of care contrary to section 13(1).

Clendenning was fined $500. Theriault was fined $1,000 and is subject to a three-year court order requiring ongoing care and monitoring of the dog involved in the charges.

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 July 2026, Ontario’s Animal Welfare Services issued more than 19,600 distress orders, laid over 2,500 charges for offences under the PAWS Act and removed over 18,500 animals from situations of distress negatively impacting their welfare.