Information Compiled about Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey

http://gailbenoit.ca/  or http://danabailey.ca

Nova Scotia, Canada's most notorious puppy brokers


NOTE - If you have arrived here because you have bought a puppy from who you believe may be the Benoits and it is currently sick and or dying - it's probably because it has a virus called parvo.  Your puppy does NOT have to die!!! You need to IMMEDIATELY start treating your puppy!!  There are internet sites you can go to where you can find information - "homemade parvo treatment", read about how another dog lived through parvo, and read about the veterinary illness and treatment from a vets perspective.


Note:  All the photos of puppies and dogs on this page are of puppies that have died after having been sold to unsuspecting people by Dana Bailey and Gail Benoit

 

For up to date stories of the Benoit's - look below at the listings of blog posts -

 

 

 

On December 13th, 2010 - charges of animal cruelty against Dana Bailey and Gail Benoit - stemming from puppies that they sold in the summer of 2008 to several people from puppies that they bought from a puppy  mill in New Brunswick called "Chapman Kennels" - were dropped - citing "lack of evidence" by the crown attorney's office.  The puppies that they sold to the public did in fact die of parvo after they sold them - but the question is - where did the parvo come from - and who's fault is the puppies' death?  It seems we learned today that selling dogs to the public with parvo is not in fact animal cruelty - it is just really poor business practice - or as the crown attorney Rosalind Michie said to CTV news - it was a "point of sale issue".

 

So as with any purchase - if you are going to buy a puppy in a parking lot or out of the back of a car - BUYER BEWARE - you may be buying a puppy with a disease that it is going to die from within the next several hours or couple of days - and like the people who bought the puppies from Dana  Bailey and Gail Benoit in the summer of 2008 - your puppy may die - and you  may not even get your money refunded to you.  Take this as a caution.

 

Read below of other factual news stories that have been written in the last 10 years that are in the public domain about this subject, and make the decisions you need to make for yourself when purchasing your next canine life companion - whether you choose to go the route of responsible breeder, rescue, or parking lot purchase.

 

 

This website is for educational purposes only.

 

 


On May 15, 2010 - a peaceful protest was held in the middle of Halifax to let people know that the Benoit's have moved to the Halifax area - so people should be on the look out if they are looking for a puppy that they shop very carefully and make sure that they only deal with reputable breeders and do their homework - you can find out some great tips that were handed out to passers-bys at the protest at a blog post that was written after the event.



On April 19th, 2010 - CTV News did a news story on Gail Benoit - 2 people had come forward claiming they had bought puppies from her - that had become ill, were not the breed that Gail had claimed they were (husky puppies), and were younger than Gail had said they were.  When asked to comment - Dana Bailey said they were healthy when they sold the puppies, that they were licenced to sell puppies in Nova Scotia - and that they would continue to sell puppies.  You can see the news video at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OckyZnzgYAQ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ALERT


SPCA warns public to be cautious about puppy brokers
Nova Scotia (April 19, 2010) – The SPCA has been busy over the last several weeks attending to complaints and concerns regarding puppies sold to unsuspecting owners who learn after the fact that they have acquired an animal that is sick, has not been screened or tested for illness or disease, or received any vaccinations. In some cases, the animals are less than 6-8 weeks old.

The SPCA is appealing to the public to both report cases that involve suspected activity whereby an animal may be in distress or a transaction appears questionable. Puppy brokers often set up in parking lots, market places or will even use on-line classifieds.

The SPCA further reminds the public to always ask for vaccination records, health history, breeding history and registration information. Reputable breeders will often want to meet the potential owner in person and will always furnish a prospective buyer with background and health information and will welcome you to their home or breeding facility.

To report about questionable puppy broker activities or animal cruelty call 1-888-703-7722. To make a donation to support the Society’s lifesaving work or to learn more, please visit www.spcans.ca.




"After numerous delays a trial date has finally been set for a Digby County couple facing animal cruelty charges. Five days have been set aside next October for the trial of Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey. The two have made headlines over the years for running a puppy mill and have previously been convicted of animal cruelty charges. A former customer, Esther Smith, whose dog died hours after it was bought, says they shouldn't even be allowed to own a goldfish when this is over."

 

As well - in a post from October, 2009 - the same blog published all the interesting bits from the court transcripts from Gail Benoit's trial in October and November, 2008 - it's a must read post - you can check it out at http://digbypuppykillers.blogspot.com/2009/10/between-her-cite-as-r-v-bailey-2009.html

It has been reported that Gail Benoit and her husband continue to sell puppies on the internet while she waits to go to trial in 2010 - so buyer beware on the internet when you are looking for your next companion animal.  Always ask to see the parents of the puppy that you are buying, check that you are dealing with a responsible breeder, when given the opportunity - or if you feel inclined - seek out a responsible rescue - and save a life rather than buying a puppy.  That way you are saving 2 lives - the dog you buy, and the dog who will come in shortly to fill the cage you have just made vacant.  If you choose to buy a puppy or dog in a parking lot - document as much as you can - when you call the NS SPCA to complain - they'll need all the evidence you can provide to them.

 

Update - April 4th, 2009 - Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey are found guilty on charges of animal cruelty and one charge of assault in late January, 2009 - stemming from an incident on October 26, 2007 with special constable Nancy Noel of the NS SPCA.  Sentencing will be heard on April 9th, 2009.  These charges were from puppies seized from the Benoit's in October 2007 that were malnourished and infested with parasites.  There are still more charges pending against the couple - more charges have been laid against the couple that stem from puppies that died in the summer of 2008 - those charges will be heard next in court on February 16, 2009.  An article on April 9, 2009 is available on Nova News Now at "Gail Benoit Gets Jail Time for Assault in 2007"


Dog from puppy mill where Gail Benoit gets her dogs

No one knows how long Dana Bailey and Gail Benoit have been selling sick and dying puppies to unknowing Atlantic Canadians - at least since 2001 - because in 2001 they were charged with Animal Cruelty - at which time they were convicted and banned from owning animals.  However that conviction was overturned on a technicality and they've been able to continue to operate until thhe winter of 2009 - when they are back in the news again - they are currently once again charged with animal cruelty charges and were due back in court at the end of January 2009 to hear the results of their trial on animal cruelty - meanwhile they are continuing to sell pain and suffering to an unsuspecting public.

In the summer of 2008 they did it by taking puppies from a back yard breeder in New Brunswick at much too young an age, keeping them minimally alive until they could get money for them - and then the puppies died within 24 hours of purchase.  Of the 27 puppies they bought from Chapman Kennels in Kilburn New Brunswick - 22 puppies died.  Some of these dead puppies have resulted in a further 4 charges each of animal cruelty for Ms. Benoit and Mr. Bailey - 2 federal and 2 provincial.  It's unknown when they'll be going to court to face the charges.
In January, 2009 they were in the news with the death of a chihuauaua here in the HRM.

 

The Benoit's went back to court October 23, and 24th 2008 and then November 3rd and 4th 2008 to finish their trial from charges filed for puppies they had seized from them October 2007.  The Digby Courier published a story on November 4th about them, and CTV news did a story on them on November 4th as well.  As well - there were people in the court room watching testimony - and some of what Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey said was pretty funny - you can read some of it here if you're a Facebook member.

 

As well in October - there was a very successful protest held down in Digby Nova Scotia - the town where Gail Benoit actually lives - trying to get people to not buy puppies from people selling them in parking lots or the back trunks of their cars.  CTV news also covered that protest and a news story was generated from that.

 

And outside the court on November 4th, 2008 - Ms. Benoit was doing a bit of performing - so because of that it gave the opportunity to make a short video that is called the "Benoit rap" video.  Please enjoy it for a moment...

 

The Benoit's were in the news in late September 2008 - just in time before their trial begins in October 2008 - they were in the news about selling a puppy who died of Parvo - the story was on CTV news - and you can see it taped on You Tube - here - when will this stop and the NS SPCA will finally act to have this couple and Puppies R Us shut down?  Who knows......

 

 

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There is a very active Facebook site working to shut down puppy brokers in Nova Scotia - you can go join up at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23438942402  - you can also access the group by going to http://puppiesrus.ca/

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If you have bought a sick or dying puppy from who you believ is either Gail Benoit or Dana Bailey - you should first deal with your sick animal, you should then kick yourself firmly in the ass for buying an animal in a parking lot or out of the back of a car.  That is not a good way to purchase a living thing that's supposed to be sharing your bed for the next 15-18 years.  You should then contact the contact the Nova Scotia SPCA - and document the illness.  Number one - get the puppy proper veterinary care!  And THEN contact the NS SPCA by calling 1-888-703-7722

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/shutting-down-puppy-mills - an online petition to try and get a lifetime ban on the Benoit's owning any types of dogs.

Kijiji discussion about the Benoit's entitled "Certain Puppy Killers out of Digby"

There is also a blog documenting the Benoit's and Bailey's exploit's which is great at http://digbypuppykillers.blogspot.com/

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My blog posts where I talk about Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey:

 

If you go to the "Courts of Nova Scotia" website and search for court cases under "Benoit" you come up with some interesting results - one of which is from 2011 when the Benoit's appealed their conviction for animal abuse - their appeal was denied - but it details the conditions that the puppies in their care were found in - the puppies that are waiting to be sold by them.  It says - "that...puppies were without food or water, were in a cardboard box and covered with urine and feces, and had distended bellies with splayed legs and their backbones were showing.....the puppies were emaciated with rib cage, backbone and hip bones evident, and had bloated bellies.  A fecal examination showed infestation with round worms, giardia and coccidia.  Giardia is a parasite that causes extreme diarrhea and abdominal cramping.  The puppies had a significant worm load, their  abdomens so distended they could barely stand.  Yet they were thin with little muscle mass, because the parasites intercepted the nutrition."

That is how the puppies in the Benoit`s care have been found to be treated by them.  So it`s no wonder that there is such a high mortality rate.

 

 

There is quite a bit of You Tube Video available now on Gail -

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If you want to see what their postings on Kijiji look like - here are a couple -

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Do you wonder why the Benoit's conviction in 2002 - when they were convicted of animal cruelty and banned from owning animals - was overturned on appeal?  That decision is actually online and you can read it.  It's at canlii.org and you can download the pdf of the decision as well.  It's very good reading - especially for their upcoming court appearance - because it really shows what the NS SPCA needs to do in order to get them convicted this time - and for the conviction this time TO STICK.

 

 

Dana Bailey

This is Dana Bailey - the male of the duo.

Here is his file on "Pet abuse.com"

http://www.pet-abuse.com/profiles/8349/

 

This is Gail Benoit - the female of the duo

Here is her file on "Pet abuse.com"

http://www.pet-abuse.com/profiles/8348/







 

 

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Some interesting things we've learned in the last few weeks by reading newspaper articles and hearing first hand accounts of people who have bought puppies from the Benoit's

  • they use photocopied vaccination papers from vets offices to try and make the puppies they're selling look like they're healthy puppies they're selling (see post here)

  • They will use every kijiji city to post their ads. We've found kijiji postings with their phone numbers in Halifax, St. Johns (Newfoundland), and Moncton

  • they will lower the price for the puppies once they realize that the buyer knows the puppy is sick

  • they think they have no culpability in the death of the puppies because they're only "buying and selling" the puppies - not breeding them - they don't take into consideration the fact that they're supposed to be keeping them healthy while they're preparing to sell them

  • it took her approximately 2 weeks between when  her story first hit the news and when it died down before she started selling puppies again.

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Here are the newspaper articles from previous years - you need adobe acrobat to read them:

 

 

Last updated at 10pm January 4, 2013