Judge Stirling of the Provincial Court of Alberta sentenced Cole Ehbrecht to twelve months custody, three years probation, and a lifetime animal ownership ban. Ehbrecht pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal animal cruelty charges after his social worker reported potential animal abuse to the Calgary Humane Society. An investigation determined that Ehbrecht had physically abused five kittens in December 2017 and November 2018, two of which were so severely injured they had to be euthanized. After considering precedent, the gravity of the offence, moral blameworthiness, and the aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Stirling determined that the sentencing principles of denunciation and deterrence would be achieved by a twelve month jail term, three years probation, and a lifetime ban on owning or having care and control of animals or birds. Read the judgment here.
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