Couple convicted of hoarding dogs in poor conditions have their fines reduced

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This article was published 03/02/2015 (4262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Gull Lake couple convicted last year of hoarding dogs in conditions so bad half of more than 60 canines had to be put down have seen their fines reduced but not their five-year ban from owning dogs.

Justice Colleen Suche of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench said today that while the ban ordered by a provincial court judge for Peter Chernecki and his wife Judith is appropriate, the total fines were too high.

Suche said she would reduce Judith Chernecki’s $5,000 fine to $1,000 for a conviction for not providing medical assistance to a dog because she wasn’t clear if the woman knew the dog needed help.

As well, the judge also reduced the total fines to $15,000. Chernecki had earlier been fined a total of $21,500.

After court, the couple’s lawyer, Bradley King, said they were still “disappointed” in the appeal decision.

Court was told the couple were charged after 64 dogs were removed in July 2010. Thirty-four of the dogs had to be put down.

Most of the dogs lived in a 672-square-foot cabin with a floor of excrement, mud and straw.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca