Jayme-Jo Crystal Brooks entered a guilty plea, admitting to animal cruelty charges on May 29 after attempting to euthanize her cat by injecting it with fentanyl in December 2024.
Brooks then took that cat, which did not die, to a veterinarian to be euthanized.
That vet called the BC SPCA Animal Helpline to report that the cat was in critical distress prior to being put down.
A necropsy ordered by the BC SPCA revealed fentanyl was found in cat.
After receiving the results of the necropsy, the BC SPCA served a search warrant and took two other cats in Brooks’ care.
Both cats were found to have cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamine in their systems.
One cat was adopted but the other had underlying health problems and had to be euthanized.
The BC SPCA recommended animal cruelty charges to Crown Counsel.
“This is a huge victory for animal welfare in Canada,” said Jamie Wiltse, the animal protection services regional manager. “We often see charges go through at the provincial level under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) act, but this case was prosecuted under the Criminal Code of Canada.”
“A criminal code conviction sends a stronger message and reflects a higher level of societal condemnation and accountability and are typically reserved for the most serious cases. Unlike a provincial offence conviction, a conviction under the criminal code carries the consequence of a criminal record.”
Brooks received a five-year prohibition from owning, having the custody or control of and residing in the same premises as an animal or a bird.
She is also on a probation order for a 12-month term with several conditions in place, including the need to engage in counselling or education programs as directed by a probation officer and a requirement to complete 30 hours of community service work.