BulletinMinistry of the Solicitor GeneralSeptember 4, 2026
Welland resident convicted under PAWS Act, fined and banned from animal ownership
On Aug 24, 2026, a Welland court found Carly Young guilty of PAWS Act offences; she was fined $7,000, given two years' probation and permanently barred from animal custody.
Summary
What happened#
- Date and place: August 24, 2026, Ontario Court of Justice in Welland.
- Defendant: Carly Young was convicted of three offences under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (PAWS Act): section 15(1) (causing an animal to be in distress), section 15(3) (exposing an animal to an undue risk of distress) and section 13(1) (failing to comply with prescribed standards of care).
Penalty#
- Fine: $7,000
- Court order: two years probation
- Prohibition: lifetime ban on owning, having custody or care of, or living with any animal
Context and scope#
- PAWS Act effective January 1, 2020; created a provincial animal welfare enforcement system.
- As of July 2026: more than 19,600 distress orders issued, over 2,500 charges laid, and more than 18,500 animals removed under the program.
How to report concerns#
- If you believe an animal is in distress or being abused, call the provincial animal welfare hotline: 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).
Related links
Source: Ontario Newsroom