We applaud Peel Regional Police for laying criminal code charges against a Mississauga man who severely neglected and made over 100 cats/kittens suffer unimaginable pain.
In this particular case, Animal Welfare Service (AWS) contacted Peel Region Police about this case. And for that we applaud them.
In case after case, AWS does not engage police when the evidence clearly shows the level of suffering inflicted reaches a criminal level as outline in Canadian Criminal Code Statute 445.1 – see below:
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-445.1.html?shem=rimspwouoe,
On April 23rd, 2026 Humane Initiative had a lengthy call with Ontario Chief Animal Welfare Office Melanie Milczynski. The call was to discuss the lack of any policy within AWS regarding engaging Police to investigate an offence to see if there is a Criminal Code violation.
Over and over again Chief Milczynski said “we have no authority to lay criminal charges”. And over and over again we would say that we know you have no authority to lay criminal charges but why are your officers not taking the most serious neglect/abuse cases to the police service in the local jurisdiction. Do you not feel any obligation to fight for true justice when you see cases that clearly meet the threshold under Code 445.1?
- Jessica Kippen – Hamilton
- Carly Young – Niagara Falls
- Katelyn Lidkea – Peterborough
In each of the above 3 cases, the amount of pain, suffering and distress inflicted without a doubt met 445.1 but in each case AWS never engaged the police to take a look a the evidence to determine if the charges should be elevated to a criminal level.
So while we are pleased to see AWS act in the most recent case in Mississauga WHY are they not putting this in their internal policies for AWS officers to follow?
Carly Young caused the death of her dog Dakota on July 30, 2024. Dakota suffered in the most unimaginable manner – the necropsy revealed what she endured. But it took the public outcry to DEMAND justice for Dakota.
And when AWS finally started an investigation, they chose not to take the evidence they had to Niagara Region Police (NRP).
Again, it took massive public outcry to demand police start and investigation.
March 12 of this year NRP opened a criminal investigation!!!! Incident# 26-29130
BUT…we are now over 2 months….and not one of main witnesses have been contacted by them!!!!
We have a series of done-for-you letter writing campaigns including one to help demand justice for Dakota & that criminal charges be laid.
Yes investigation has apparently started but we are not sitting back and trusting that anything will come of that.
