May 9, 2012: Well intentioned, but accused of cat hoarding
By Jessica Smith
Mother and daughter Nora and Elissa Aubrey-Lafreniere have been taking in alley cats for years—and since the Ottawa Humane Society was given the legal power to enforce stricter animal cruelty laws, they’ve been in and out of court.
“I don’t know why they’re doing this,” said an agitated Elissa last Wednesday.
The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) has repeatedly seized cats from the home and the pair is facing charges as result. They’re just two of the people the animal welfare society is seeing through the court system as part of its job to enforce animal cruelty laws in the city.
There were at least six cats in the apartment Wednesday, contrary to a court order. The Ottawa Humane Society seized them two days later.
Elissa and Nora pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in 2010 after the OHS seized 33 cats and a dog from their apartment in 2009. They are prohibited from owning animals, with the exception of their two huskies, Bella and Dakota..." More
Jan 23, 2012: 15 cats seized from mother and daughter banned from owning pets
Ottawa Humane Society workers have seized 15 cats from a mother and daughter who had been banned from owning more animals because of previous animal cruelty convictions.Elissa and Nora Aubrey-Lafreniere were charged with breaching a court order after their east Ottawa home was searched by Humane Society workers on Jan. 10.
The two were convicted in March 2010 of animal cruelty and were banned from owning any more animals other than their two dogs. The pair were also ordered to undergo counselling for hoarding issues.
“Animal hoarding issues are very difficult and complicated,” Humane Society inspector Miriam Smith said in a press release. “Without appropriate counselling to address the hoarding behaviour as well as follow-up inspections, animal hoarding has 100-per-cent recidivism and in almost all cases we have no choice but to lay charges again. In these cases, the OHS will be seeking a lifetime ban from owning pets.”
The pair are to appear in court on Feb. 15. The maximum sentence for disobeying a court order is two years in jail..." Link
Mar 7, 2010: Women plead guilty to animal cruelty
By DARREN BROWNA mother and daughter found to have 33 cats in their home pleaded guilty Thursday to four counts of animal cruelty.
The Ottawa Humane Society says it is satisfied with the plea. Nora Aubrey-Lafreniere, 51, and her daughter, Elissa Aubrey-Lafreniere, 30, were charged last November after the nearly three dozen cats were removed from their Vanier apartment.
Amid feces-covered walls and the stench of urine, Ottawa Humane Society inspectors removed the animals, only four of which could be saved.
Humane society Insp. Miriam Smith says with TV shows now exposing hoarders and hoarding issues, the public is coming forward with more reports of animal hoarding.
“It’s actually very common. It’s more common than people are aware of it. We’re seeing an increase in these types of calls going forward.”
Smith also says that while every case is complicated and unique, in many cases of animal hoarding, an individual’s mental state comes into question.." More
Nov 28, 2010: OHS charges Ottawa women with animal cruelty in hoarding case
By DARREN BROWN
Two Ottawa women have been charged with animal cruelty after 33 cats were removed from a Vanier apartment earlier this month.
On Nov. 26, Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) inspectors charged Nora Aubrey-Lafreniere, 51 and her daughter, Elissa Aubrey-Lafreniere, 30, for permitting distress to and not meeting the standards of care for animals in their possession. Inspectors had been investigating the occupants of the home since April, following up on complaints from both the City of Ottawa and members of the public about the number of animals housed in the property and concerns about the general care of those animals.
On Nov. 13, OHS investigators arrived at the Aubrey-Lafreniere home with a warrant. Upon entering the home, they found multiple cats in need of immediate veterinary care. There was an overwhelming smell of urine throughout the entire apartment building, and feces was found covering walls, furniture and ground into the carpet of the particular unit involved.
Most of the cats found in the home were not socialized to humans, and it was difficult for even trained animal handlers to approach them. Three cats escaped from the unit during the confiscation process. The investigators successfully removed 33 cats and transported them back to the OHS shelter..." More
