Gail Benoit was in court today - and the public finally got to see a photograph of her - which is posted here, as it was in the newspaper. So we've finally got something to tag her with, which is fabulous. We can say - "was it a woman who looked like this who sold you the sick puppy that died?" She's a lot younger than I thought she was. I thought she'd be in her 50's anyway, because some of her stories are about her poor health. It goes you show you shouldn't have pre-conceived notions about anyone.
The Chronicle Herald is really not holding anything back in their reporting of the story it seems - or maybe they are and it's really a lot more gross than what they are actually saying - it seems to be really salacious and very dirty down there in Dibgy, that's for sure.
Puppy seller faces slew of charges
Woman allegedly attacked SPCA officer during raid at Digby County home
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Tue. Dec 11 - 5:53 AM
Gail Ruth Benoit is now charged with assaulting an SPCA officer, obstructing police and damaging government property. She also faces animal cruelty charges. (BRIAN MEDEL / Yarmouth Bureau)
DIGBY — A Digby County woman accused of failing to care for several puppies at her home is now also charged with assaulting an SPCA officer, obstructing police and damaging government property.
Court documents allege Gail Ruth Benoit, 38, assaulted SPCA special constable Nancy Noel on Oct. 24.
Ms. Benoit and her common-law husband, Dana Bailey, were in court Monday to get their case adjourned until February so their lawyer can have more time to examine the Crown’s evidence. The couple also face a number of animal cruelty charges stemming from raids on their Roxville home in October, when SPCA staff armed with a search warrant seized a total of 10 puppies over two days.
SPCA officials confirmed in October that tests done on the animals revealed they had an intestinal virus that could be linked to unsanitary living conditions.
RCMP officers ended up arresting Ms. Benoit on the second day of the seizures, Oct. 26, and removed her from her bungalow. They placed her in the back of a police car where she rocked back and forth and shouted obscenities while the puppies were collected. Mr. Bailey was not home.
On Monday, the couple left Digby provincial court by a side door.
Ms. Benoit walked to her mini-van behind her husband, making occasional rude gestures.
"The truth will be known in the end," she said before jumping into the van.
Several people have contacted the Nova Scotia SPCA to say they’ve purchased puppies from Ms. Benoit, and some complaints have been lodged, said SPCA special constable Sean Kelly, who was in court Monday.
Previous articles relating to this story:
Gail Benoit's Lawyer in the news today
Province's Most Notorious Puppy Miller/Stealer/Broker Arrested
Just wanted to give you an update :
ReplyDeleteSPCA abused its power in Digby animal cruelty case, lawyer says:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9005581.html
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Mon. Feb 18 - 5:02 PM
DIGBY — The lawyer for a Digby couple accused of selling sick, dirty puppies says he wants all the charges against his clients to go away.
Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey face criminal and animal cruelty charges after SPCA staff seized 10 pups over two days from the couple’s Digby-area home last fall.
SPCA said at the time they acted on public complaints.
Monday in Digby provincial court, defence lawyer Michael Power said that he would make a motion to stay all proceedings against his clients as an abuse of process by the SPCA.
Last October, SPCA and RCMP officers went to the couple’s Roxville home where Ms. Benoit, 38, was arrested. In addition to animal cruelty charges, she’s charged with assaulting an SPCA officer, obstruction and damaging a police car.
Mr. Bailey, who was not home when officers arrived, is charged with animal cruelty.
“I think the main reason that they find themselves before the courts, is the SPCA has taken it upon themselves to regulate the private sale of dogs,” Mr. Power said about his clients outside the courtroom.
“They (SPCA) don’t like the fact that (Ms. Benoit and Mr. Bailey) have been selling dogs and so as a result of that, they’ve taken it upon themselves to take on the regulation of that particular activity which I’m not sure falls within their jurisdiction."
Ms. Benoit also faces assault and mischief charges in relation to her arrest.
Mr. Power said he’ll attempt to have those criminal charges stayed as well.
“They flow from the activities of the enforcement officers on that day so if the charges under the animal cruelty act fail then the other charges should fail as well,” he said.
The next court appearance in the matter involves two days in June for a hearing on the preliminary motion to stay the charges.
Mr. Power did not enter pleas Monday to any of the charges but said it is his intention to plead not guilty to all counts on behalf of his clients.
“The SPCA’s main mandate is the investigation and alleviation of cruelty to animals,” said SPCA president Pam Keddy on Monday.
“It’s not the sale of puppies that we’re interested in, it's how (people) are caring for these animals,” she said.
In the matter of Ms. Benoit and Mr. Bailey, the SPCA was able to obtain a search warrant.
“Our warrants aren’t to inspect, our warrants are to seize,” said Ms. Keddy.
“In order to seize there had to be enough evidence that they would award us the (search) warrant."
The SPCA do not investigate anonymous complaints, said Ms. Keddy. But when people call them with concerns about the health and safety of animals, they investigate, she said.
The matter returns to court June 26 and 27 in Digby.
(bmedel@herald.ca)
Did she ever sell any Yorkies. My aunt purchased a yorkie puppy off the diby boat in Saint John from a women and a man. Did not see a car, as the were walked on passengers. that was 3 months ago. they thought she looked and acted realy sketching. She says are you looking for something when she approached my uncle alone in his car. he was not sure of what she meant. curious to know is this a different couple. any pics of the man?
ReplyDeleteI bought 2 beautiful papillons from this freak on july 6 2008...they both died within a few days ..she would not respond to my emails or telephone calls...she should be put in jail for a long long time....
ReplyDeleteI think you should look on kijiji.ca you can see lots and lots of ads warning people about these people I think its fucking horrible. Why would someone even think of doing this. God you can sell puppies keep then heathly and make money without going to jail but no these people are sick and have to ruin people hopes and dreams of owning a new puppy. I think these people should be put away. If they stay out of jail someone should check up on them every day or every other day to make sure they have no puppies. They own the van you see driving around the town of digby all the time with "PUPPIES-R-US" on the side of it. Please do something about this, no one desires this not these helpless animals.
ReplyDeletehttp://fredericton.kijiji.ca/c-pets-dogs-puppies-for-sale-QUALITY-TINY-TOY-YORKIE-TERRIOR-BABY-1-HANSOME-BOY-W0QQAdIdZ86114118
ReplyDeleteshe is at it again
I had a chiauhau pup {supposedly} that was a year old but come to find out the dog was 6 years old when the vet confirmed it I called but all I got was lies so I returned the dog on the advise from the dog control do to investigations on her and the ownertold me the truth as well I told her I wanted the dog for breeding purposes but it didn't matter as long as the money was good so u got what u deserve BITCH
ReplyDeletejuly 2011--- They are still selling puppies and falsely advertising breed, age and medical health and treatments received. Possibily because they don't know the infomation. The puppy my family member purchased on kijiji.ca was not the puppy they received. Puppy was an older dog, not spaded or house trainned as advertised. they are out alot of money and emotional much more. There is alot more to the story but the main point i want to make is no matter how nice the ads and promises are , always visit the the puppies home enviroment, view the mother and bring to a vet if in doubt. AN honest seller shouldn't have any problems with these arrangements. The ad posted for this particular puppy graded a 100%- to good to be true and it was,sadly.
ReplyDeleteThe silver lining to this story is that this dog has been rescused by a super family and if she can adjust to kindness she will be ok!!!
does anyone have any contact information or any ads of puppies she is selling? i would like to research her moree. plese email me at shayblades@gmail.com thank you
ReplyDeleteShania - you should join the Facebook group"Ban Gail Benoit from Ever owning any Animal Period" and you'll find all sorts of ads she's posted and other ways to research her - good luck!
ReplyDelete