Animal abuse sentencing has residents demanding an appeal

Judge rules crime "could have been worse"

by Richard McKergow, Liberty Gleaner, May 2002

Animal rights activists and community organizations were stunned last month at the lenient sentencing of two men who were convicted of torturing, skinning alive, and killing a cat.

"I'm shocked," says Suzanne Lahaie, cofounder of Freedom for Animals (FFA), and of the Kensington Stray Cat Rescue, a project of FFA. "We've been getting calls, emails and letter from all over the world. People want to know how can someone commit something so cruel and walk the streets."

Anthony Wennekers, 25, was sentenced to time already served at the Toronto Don Jail (almost a year). And Jesse Power, 22, was sentenced to 90 days of jail time to be served on weekends, plus house arrest that will require him to stay in his home except to attend school and work. Many feel that the sentence was so light, there should be an appeal.

Powers and Wennekers were charged with cruelty to animals and mischief, which carry maximum penalties of two years and six months, respectively.

Although most of those observing the trial were outraged at the light sentences, despite the brutality of the crime, the judge's comments have people reeling.

"There are worse ways that this cat could have died," said Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston, who decided that the maximum sentence was not required because he felt the crime was not the worse possible.

Area residents are campaigning to have the decision appealed.

"An appeal is being considered," says Robin Flumerfelt, the crown attorney who argued that Powers and Wenneker get the maximum sentence possible. He adds that since the decision was made on the 18th of April, the Attorney General's office will make the decision on an appeal public by the 18th of this month.

The cat's death was videotaped, and this was shown at the trial.

The two men claimed that the act was an artistic statemtn and also a political one against eating meat. However Lahaie does not buy that.

"This is not art, it's not a statemtn, and does not teach animal rights," she states. "The cat was meowing through the whole thing, it was certainly suffering. They need to be taken off the streets, for everyone, animal or human."

Lahaie points out that studies show that people who engage in cruelty to animals are likely to engage in cruelty to humans as well.

"We have many people contacting the crown, the judge, and the Attorney General as well asking for an appeal," she says. "If there is no appeal, people are going to be even more upset."

Since the trial and the sentencing, neighbourhood residents have been far more cautious about their pets, and also themselves. Lahaie says that the Kensington Cat Rescue is especially on high alert.

FFA has also started the Kensington Animal Legal Defense Fund. In the future, the fund will be used to fight animal abuse cases in the courts, and also raise public awareness through campaigning.

As a cofounder of a cat rescue, Lahaie has also been encouraging people in all neighbourhoods to start their own cat rescue, as strays are far more susceptible to abuse.

Lahaie says that people are also looking out for a third man who was in the videotape, and vows to keep the incident fresh in people's minds.

"We will never let anyone forget who they are and what they have done," she states.