Two men from Miramichi have been convicted on animal cruelty charges, according to the New Brunswick SPCA (NBSPCA).

Bernard Bouchard was convicted on Tuesday of failing to provide a dog with adequate medical attention when the animal was wounded and willful neglect in providing food, water, shelter, and care.

The sentence included 45 days of house arrest and a 20-year prohibition from owning any animals. He was also ordered to pay more than $1,300.

In addition, Hugo Bouchard was convicted of failing to provide a dog with medical attention. He was sentenced to a 20-year prohibition from owning animals and fined $500.

These charges come from an incident in June 2022, where NBSPCA officers responded to a call of a neglected dog.

“I am very proud of the excellent work and dedication of our animal protection officers in ensuring a successful conclusion to this case”, said Tony Porter, chief animal protection officer at the New Brunswick SPCA.

“Link’s was a very serious case of animal cruelty. The sentence given by the judge in this case should serve as a reminder to pet owners that if you fail to look after your animals, you could face serious consequences.”

The NBSPCA said it also experienced a continuous increase in calls related to animal welfare between 2020 and 2023.

Of concern is the 62 per cent increase in serious cases related to animals injured/requiring medical attention or inadequate food, water, and shelter.

The NBSPCA said owners are legally responsible for providing care of their animals and to reach out for help from friends or family members for assistance.

Other options include your local animal shelter, local cat/dog rescue group, or the NBSPCA.