Pet detective

>> Intrepid SPCA investigator soldiers on against animal abuse

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: J.C. Brousseau

Occupation: Inspector/Investigator for the SPCA.

Age: 60

Salary: About $40,000 per annum.

Bio: This tough-as-nails former Air Force staff sergeant has been travelling the province prosecuting, educating and being shot at by animal abusers for almost 22 years. One of only three full-time investigators in la belle province, J.C. quit his post last year in an attempt to "get away from it all," but was compelled to return only six months later. "The SPCA is a very hard place to leave. It's not like other work places. People share a real sense of purpose there and it's not an easy thing to turn your back on."

The most common abuse he investigates: People who starve or beat up their pets.

His theory as to why someone would ever want to beat up on a cute little pussycat: "We live in a violent society and animals are easy targets for aggression. The people who abuse animals are the same people who will abuse a child or an elderly person. It's the same pattern. Ignorance has a lot to do with it as well."

The Canadian province with the most animal abusers and the weakest animal welfare laws: Quebec. "Compared to the rest of Canada and the U.S. we have a record that is maybe 20 to 50 times worse than in other jurisdictions. We are the only province in Canada without an animal welfare act. It's just not a priority for the current government."

Percentage of convictions he gets: Ninety per cent of cases that end up in court.

Current maximum fine for individuals who torture kittens: $500

How often spiteful animal abusers simply kill their pets after he has visited them rather than allow them to be taken away: All the time.

Does he ever feel like killing some of the people he investigates? Yes.

Does witnessing animal abuse ever become routine? "No, you can never get used to it. At the end of the day I don't want to think about what I've seen. I have to get it out of my head. I want to forget."

How often people get violent with him: Not as often as they used to when he was a younger man. But J.C. says he's more than capable of dealing with these situations when they occur.

Most satisfying parts of the job:. Taking an animal away from an abusive environment and seeing it adopted into a loving home. Educating people to the fact that "animals are feeling creatures with emotions and distinctive personalities. A lot of people don't seem to realize this."

Most frustrating: 1) Working with the current laws governing animal welfare. Prosecuting a case, winning it, and having a judge rule that the abused animals should go back to their abusive owner after paying a minimal fine.

2) Rescuing an animal, bringing it back to the shelter, watching it get healthy only to see it end up being put down because nobody wants to adopt it.

Something else he does: Exercise. J.C. jogs at least eight kilometres a day.

Last book read: A Painted House, by John Grisham.

Musical tastes: 1950s rock 'n' roll. He saw Elvis perform in '58.

Philosophy: "Whatever will be, will be. You can't stop fate." :

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca