Coaticook man fined for cropping dog’s tail

A63-year-old Coaticook man has been fined $3,750 for cutting his dog's tail. In March of 2016, Yves Michel Bourquart used an elastic band and an exacto knife to cut his dog’s tail.

The SPA Estrie had received a complaint and after investigating, found evidence at the Coaticook veterinary clinic where the dog had been brought.

Bourquart recently pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of failing to ensure that the animal was not subjected to any abuse or ill-treatment that could affect its health.

The total fine is the minimum under the Animal Welfare and safety Act of $2,500 plus legal costs.

The practice of clipping an animal’s tail for aesthetic purposes was banned in January 2016 by the Order of veterinary surgeons of Quebec.