The owner of the Revelstoke petting zoo has been charged with a total of 24 counts of animal cruelty.
If convicted, James Richard Bruvall could receive a 5-year jail sentence, a $75,000 fine, and a lifetime ban on owning animals anywhere in Canada.
The charges stem from a July, 2017 raid by the BC SPCA, where officials found over a dozen animals living under poor conditions.
“They lacked adequate food, shelter, and veterinary care, and what’s extremely troubling is that these animals were being used for profit for (Bruvall), “says Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention officer for the BC SPCA. “It’s very sad that he didn’t turn the money he earned from these animals back into insuring their adequate care.”
In total, five horses, three pigs, two mini-horses, a lamb, an alpaca, a goat and a peacock were seized from the property. A dead pig was also found during the search.
Moriarty says efforts to relocate the rescued animals have been mostly successful.
"We have adopted all but one: an amazing goat," says Moriarty. "If anybody wants a lovely goat, please contact us, because we are hoping to have him in a forever home for spring."