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Judge asks for psychological
assessment of rabbit hoarder
The Edmonton Journal : Monday,
December 19, 2011
EDMONTON - A woman who had more
than 1,100 rabbits seized from her home pleaded guilty to causing an animal
distress on Monday, but a provincial court judge wants more information before
deciding on her sentence.
Shelley Zenner was charged with various offences under the Animal Protection Act
after the Humane Society seized 567 rabbits from her Terwillegar-area home in
March 2010. Because so many of the animals were pregnant, the Humane Society
ended up with 589 rabbits. An additional 542 rabbits had been seized from the
home between fall 2008 and March 2010.
Zenner sat with her head in her hands as Crown prosecutor Christian Lim
described the scene animal protection officers found when they entered the home
on Haliburton Crescent in March 2010.
There were holes in the walls, exposing electrical wires that had been chewed.
The floor was covered in feces and soaked in urine. Dead rabbit carcasses were
decomposing in some rooms. Several rabbits had bite marks to their necks or
ears, and urine burns. Others were missing eyes or genitalia. Many rabbits were
found to be carrying snuffles, a highly contagious and untreatable respiratory
disease.
All 589 rabbits had to be euthanized using lethal injection. Lim said the cost
of the euthanization was about $45,000. Veterinary exams cost an additional
$55,000.
Defence lawyer Dan Nagase argued that the animals’ conditions resulted when
Zenner’s physical and mental health concerns “brewed into a perfect storm.” “Her
intentions were never to harm any of these animals,” he said.
Nagase and Lim issued a joint submission that would see Zenner to pay $8,500 in
fines and receive a lifetime prohibition from owning animals. The prohibition
would allow Zenner to own one spayed or neutered dog or cat. She would also be
required to undergo counselling.
But Judge Ferne LeReverend wanted more information on Zenner’s mental health
before handing down a sentence.
“It seems to me that she’s a hoarder and if she can’t hoard rabbits, she’ll
hoard something else,” LeReverend said. “She needs help mentally.” LeReverend
ordered an assessment, saying Zenner has “some mental issues that we’re not
properly addressing.” The case will be back in court on March 30, once the
assessment has been conducted.
Lim said he understands the judge’s decision to request more information. “The
court’s just doing its job and making sure it looks at all angles. I think this
is a very difficult case,” he said.
“There’s more than 1,100 victims ... They’re real lives and they need real
justice. But at the same time, you have to balance that with this woman who has
to go on with her life.”
Zenner’s son, Quentin Zenner, and her mother, Edna Zenner, were also charged
with causing animals distress, failing to provide adequate care for sick or
wounded animals, and failing to provide the animals with food and water, as well
as shelter, ventilation and space. Quentin Zenner and Edna Zenner are scheduled
to appear in court to face the charges on March 30.
Read more:
Animal
suffering, cruelty and hoarding; Adams County, repeat offences; pet industry
cruelty, Ohio,; When is a rescuer a hoarder?; BC cases
Brooklyn judge dismisses $2B
lawsuit filed by rabbit hoarder
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