By Canadian Press

Animal Abuse

Psychiatric assessment deems woman criminally responsible in animal abuse case

Apr 25, 2019 | 8:16 AM

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – A court-ordered psychiatric assessment has determined a southern Alberta woman facing animal abuse charges can be held criminally responsible for her actions.

April Dawn Irving, who is 59 and originally from Lethbridge, is charged with 13 counts of cruelty to animals and one count of causing suffering to animals.

She was arrested in 2014 after five dogs were found dead on a property near Milk River, Alta., along with more than 200 neglected animals that were dehydrated, starving and chained to stakes.

The results of the assessment were presented to an agent for Irving’s lawyer, Bjoern Wolkmann, in Lethbridge provincial court.

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On March 29, she pleaded guilty to one count of failing to appear and was sentenced to 30 days, but has pleaded not guilty to the rest of the charges.

Irving is to be back in court May 9.