Quebec cat lover sent to jail after refusing to give up his pets

A Quebec man is vowing to keep his six cats, despite recently being sent to jail after breaking a local bylaw thatsays he's allowed only one cat at a time.

SylvainBrunette, 54,spent four days in Quebec's largest provincial prison earlier this month after he refused to pay fines totaling over $1,000 for owning too many cats.

5 cats too many

Brunette's trouble with the law didn't start until he moved to Franklin, Que., a municipality of 1,700 people about an hour south of Montreal.

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Five years ago, Brunette rented a home in the country, where he moved with his six then 10-year-old cats. The cats were neutered.Initiallythree of them spent timeoutdoors, but shortly after moving, he decided to keep them all inside.

He said his cats are very well looked after, and that he's been an animal lover since he was a child.

At the time of his move, said Brunette, he told his neighbour he had the cats, and asked him tolet him knowif they bothered the neighbour in any way.

That's the only way Brunettefigures the municipality could have known he had more than onecat.

In Franklin, residents are allowed a maximum of one cat. Over the course of the last three years, Brunette received three fines totalling$1,208 for having too many cats and for feeding stray cats.

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He never paid his fines. Beyond the facthe's on social assistance, Brunette said hefound the finesridiculous.

"I have no business paying fines for kitties," he said. "I find that really stupid."

Escorted to jail by 3 police officers

He was sentenced to 54 days in jail for not paying his fines.

He lived with his cats until November 6,when three police officers appeared at his home and transported him to Bordeaux Prison.

I was afraid for my life. These were not good guys.- SylvainBrunette

Brunette spent four days in jailamong other criminals.

"I was afraid for my life," he said. "These were not good guys."

His family raised $1,409 to pay for his bail. He plans to pay them back, slowly, over time.

Brunette isnow back at homebut says he will not be getting rid of his cats, who are now 16 years old.

"I did all of this because I love my cats. I don't want to get rid of them," he said.

Mayor unaware of case

When reached on the phone by CBC News, the mayor of Franklin, Suzanne YelleBlair, said she was unaware of Brunette's case.

She said the village has had problems with stray animals in the past, and that's why the bylaw was introduced.

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