Saint John teen avoids jail time after pleading guilty in deaths of 14 cats

Animal activists expressed outrage yesterday after a Saint John woman was given a conditional sentence to be served in the communityand a year to pay a $200 fine for causingthe deaths of 14cats.

SkyeElizabeth Harvey, 18, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering and harming 15 cats.

One of the 15 Himalayan cats survived after Harvey crammed them into a dogcrate and then into a garbage bag, and left them behind at her homeon the city's west side last year, the provincial court in Saint Johnwas told.

She killed 14 cats and she is not doing a day in jail.This is wrong.- Michelle Parker, Rescue Meow

Michelle Parker, one of about a dozen animal activists who gathered outside the Saint John Law Courts building to confront Harvey, saidthe sentence istoo lenient for the crime.

"She killed 14 cats and she is not doing a day in jail.This is wrong,"said Parker, a member of Rescue Meow.

"What are we saying?That it's OKto hurt, abuse, and neglect and murder animals and it's OK because she is just 18?That's foolishness," she said.

• Saint John police investigating discovery of dead cats

Harvey was also ordered to getcounselling, andstay away from animals andnot stay in a house with pets for the next 10 years.

She had also previously beencharged with violating theSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act byfailing to provide the cats with food, shelter, water and care. That charge was dropped.

Evidence showed Harvey had put the cats in the crate to avoid a negative inspection by her landlord, who did not allow pets in the house. She later forgot about them, court was told.

Fourteenof the catswere either found dead on the scene on Aug. 28, 2015, or were later euthanized.

Harvey's age and her early guilty plea were deciding factors in her sentencing, the judge said.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that death by torture is OK as long as you say you are guilty.- Stephanie Thornton, Rescue Meow

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous that death by torture is OK as long as you say you are guilty," said Stephanie Thornton, founder of Rescue Meow.

Tara Thealldiscoveredthe cats in the crate last year.

Theall was out with her twin sister and bestfriend looking for their own lost cat when they found the dead animalsin the bushes.

Theall was uncomfortable talking about the condition of the cats, but saidin an interview outside of court thatshe thought the sentencing was fair.

"It took a really long time, but we are really happy with what happened. I think two yearsjail time, which everybody else wanted, wouldn't do her any good. She needs the help."