Manitoba Trucker Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail for Violating the Health of Animals Act

July 5, 2010, Calgary, Alberta - On June 4, 2010, Manitoba trucker Geoffrey Giesbrecht, 27, was sentenced to an intermittent jail sentence of 30 days for the inhumane treatment and transportation of horses that were seriously injured during a trip to a slaughterhouse.

Giesbrecht entered a guilty plea to one count of violating subsection 138(4) of the Health of Animals Act, relating to an incident that took place on November 7, 2007. Fourteen horses died or were euthanized following the November 2007 incident. The intermittent 30-day jail sentence is to be served on weekends.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for enforcing the Health of Animals Act and its regulations. The Health of Animals Act regulates, among other things, the humane treatment of animals and their care, handling, disposition and transportation.

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