Animal Abuser Selling Pets on Kijiji Despite Lifelong Ban

(CBC)

Nova Scotia resident Gail Benoit was convicted on animal cruelty charges in 2009 for selling sick and malnourished puppies. As a result she was banned from buying, selling or giving away any animals. That ban has since ended.

In 2014 she was barred from buying or selling domestic or wild animals after being prosecuted for stealing and selling two dogs from a woman in New Brunswick. That court order has also expired, however Kijiji has a lifetime ban against her using their services.

Despite the ban, a Halifax area man, Justin Killen, recently purchased two kittens through Kijiji from Benoit.

"My friend had posted a picture of Gail Benoit, and I immediately, after seeing the pictures, knew exactly who I dealt with — you know, just the spitting image of her and the pictures were just exactly the same,” Killen told CBC.

Shawn McIntyre, a spokesman for Kijiji, confirmed to CBC that Benoit was posting ads on the site at the same time Killen contacted her. "We did get a notification last week that someone suspected that this was happening and we investigated the ad that was brought to our attention," he said.

Kijiji staff determined Benoit had been using her daughter’s account.

The team at Kijiji will keep an eye out for further attempts by Benoit to post ads to their site, either as herself, or if it appears she is using an account in the name of her family members.

"Be wary of who you're dealing with. Ask a lot of questions. If it seems like you're bothering the person, asking too many questions, that it's probably a good idea not to go through with the deal," Killen advised in the CBC report.

One resource available to help people when looking for a pet is the website B4 U GET A PET.

Read the full story here.

B4 U GET A PET Check Out This New Website

Have you ever found yourself going from site to site, searching for information on getting a pet? Wondering what type of animal would be best for you or how much you should budget for one?

B4U GET A PET was developed with people like you in mind. Created by a group of researchers from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, Ontario, this website is a valuable resource for potential pet owners.

“It’s important for us to choose a pet that matches our lifestyle and expectations so we are sure to find the right personality for our situation and household,” says Dr. Jason Coe, faculty with the OVC Department of Population Medicine. “Research has shown that the success of a human-companion animal relationship is influenced by whether an owner’s expectations can be met by the pet and whether the needs and lifestyle of the owner and personality of their pet match.”

Coe and his team have loaded the website with practical, evidence-based information in an accessible, easy-to-use site.

There is a fun cat and dog quiz to test your pet knowledge and customizable budget forms to fill in that give a clear idea of costs. Information about bringing pets home and introducing them to other animals and children can be found.

The website also provides specific questions prospective owners can ask whether they are sourcing their new pet from a breeder, animal shelter or rescue, pet store, online source or from a friend.

“Regardless of the source, there are a number of questions we should be asking when getting a new pet. We want to make sure we are making an informed decision, because ensuring a lasting relationship even before it starts is in both the pet’s and our best interest,” says Coe.

Not only is the website a great source of information for the potential pet owner, shelters, breeders, animal control, pet stores and others in the animal industry can use B4 U GET A PET as a one-stop-information-shop for their clients.

Kijiji Thwarted in Attempt to Ban Pet Broker

A CBC report earlier today shows the energy some individuals will invest to continue irresponsible behaviors. Clearly, a positive pet experience is unlikely to begin with a delivery that takes place in a parking lot or with a purchase from someone that hides behind third party identities.

Sean McIntyre provides a compelling rendition of the problems faced by Kijiji across multiple episodes with one individual and shows how 'ban avoidance' occurs. Just how the industry can prevent these kinds of behaviors in Canadian communities remains a work in progress. It is likely to be a component of the conversations taking place at the Urban Animal Regional Conference in Halifax just a few weeks from now.

An obvious requirement will be collaborative enforcement activities across the industry and perhaps the kind of standards legislation that has been brought before the BC Government by North Vancouver MLA, Jane Thornthwaite.

Read the CBC Report