Marineland launches lawsuit against OSPCA

JOHN LAW

Marineland has filed a lawsuit against the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA).

The Niagara Falls park filed the charges Tuesday in Toronto, according to OSPCA spokeswoman Stephanie Johns. When asked for comment, the animal welfare organization issued a statement saying it “vehemently denies all of the allegations and will defend itself.

“No further comment can be made at this time as the matter is being referred to counsel and is before the courts.”

Likewise, Marineland would not elaborate on the lawsuit or specify the amount being sought: “Marineland does not presently have anything to provide to you in relation to your enquiry.”

St. Catharines radio station CKTB cited the amount as $21 million.

The lawsuit is the latest salvo in hostilities between the two groups, which began last November when the OSPCA charged Marineland with five counts of animal cruelty related to the park’s bears, guinea hens and one peacock. Six more animal cruelty charges followed in January, involving the park’s elk, red deer and fallow deer. None of the animals were removed from the park.

Marineland strongly disputed the charges accusing the OSPCA of “continuing a publicity campaign at the behest of a band of discredited activists with little relevant expertise or knowledge.”

The OSPCA said it “responded to concerns” by having a veterinarian inspect the park last November. But Marineland said the charges stemmed from a former employee who was fired for “poor performance and inappropriate behavior.”

After several court appearances, all 11 charges were dropped by the Crown in Provincial Offences Court in Niagara Falls Aug. 10. Eight were dropped because there was no “reasonable prospect” of conviction, according to the Crown, while the remaining three were deemed “not in the public’s interest” to pursue.

Following the decision, an OSPCA spokeswoman said the organization was “extremely disappointed” in the outcome, and felt “this matter is of public interest.”

Marineland said it was “unnecessarily made to suffer severe reputational damage at the hands of the OSPCA’s publicity and fundraising machine.”