Yarmouth Pair Charged with Animal Cruelty

PRESS RELEASE – Yarmouth, NS (July 30, 2020) – Jennifer Hurlburt, 36, and Matthew Hart, 34, of Yarmouth, have been charged under the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia under Section 26 (2) for permitting an animal to be in distress.

On June 25, 2020, a Nova Scotia SPCA Enforcement Officer responded to a dog running loose. As a direct result of the dog’s poor physical condition and investigation, the dog was seized and taken for immediate medical care. The caregivers were given a seizure notice and appeal documents. However, no appeal was filed with the Animal Welfare Appeal Board.

“The dog in distress was less than half the weight he should have been,” said Jo-Anne Landsburg, Chief Provincial Inspector at the Nova Scotia SPCA. “It is the owner’s responsibility to reach out for help if they cannot provide appropriate care. The Nova Scotia SPCA accepts animals across the province with no surrender fee.”

Hurlburt and Hart are both scheduled to appear in Yarmouth Provincial Court on September 15, 2020 at 9:30am. The Nova Scotia SPCA has a zero-tolerance policy for animal cruelty. They urge you to report acts of animal cruelty by contacting the SPCA confidential toll-free line at 1-888-703-7722.