An Edmonton veterinarian is facing multiple animal abuse-related charges in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred over a nine-month period.
Edmonton police allege the veterinarian, who owns the Hollick Kenyon Veterinary Clinic in the city’s northeast, punched and kicked animals, restricted food, and confined two animals for an extended period of time between August 2015 and April 2016.
Officers with the city’s Animal Care and Control Centre seized two dogs from the clinic in April, at which time police were called in to investigate.
Jun Yang, 47, has been criminally charged with willfully causing unnecessary pain, causing suffering or injury to an animal.
He also faces three charges under the Animal Protection Act: causing an animal to be in distress, failing to ensure an animal has adequate food and water and failing to provide an animal with adequate shelter, ventilation and space.
According to police, the dogs were registered to the clinic and staying there in what they described as an “office dog” situation. The clinic had been responsible for the dogs’ daily care but both have since been removed and are being taken care of elsewhere.
“It’s not something that comes across our officers’ plates everyday, absolutely,” Edmonton police spokesperson Anna Batchelor said, “and I think that speaks to the extent to which our officer did have to go to investigate this.
“If we have other complainants that come forward or witnesses that have alleged other incidents, it’s something our investigators would look deeper into and that would be addressed at the time that information comes forward.”
Yang was released on his own recognizance and police said he was not known to them prior to their investigation.
Police said they are looking to hear from witnesses or anyone else who may have had a similar experience with the veterinarian. Possible witnesses are asked to call police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Tips can also be anonymously submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
-With files from Shallima Maharaj