Couple subject of many complaints, charges woman

Power suggested that had the couple been cruel to animals, there would have been more complaints over the years considering the number of dogs the couple has sold.

He also Benoit and Bailey’s business is “basically in limbo”.

However, Smith says the Benoit and Bailey continue to sell puppies through their Puppies ‘R’ Us business, despite being found guilty of animal cruelty.

She said there also have been dozens of complaints about Benoit and Bailey over the years but the vast majority of those complaints have not been officially documented.

Smith, who lives in the Truro area, has been highly visible since recounting last summer how a puppy she purchased from Gail Benoit died hours after leaving the Puppies ‘R’ Us van. Her Facebook group has attracted more than 1,500 members.

As a result of media coverage, Smith has received emails from individuals who purchased sick and dying puppies from Gail Benoit over the years. “I received emails from three people who bought puppies from her back in 1996, and their puppies died. And two more who had puppies that they bought from her in 1997—they died, too. “In 2006, she sold puppies that she told people were terri-poos (terrier-poodle mix). She said they’d weigh about 10 pounds and they wound up weighing more than 50 pounds. “There was a woman who bought a puppy from her in 2007 and it died. The woman said she contacted the RCMP and they told her there was nothing they could do.”

Smith said since their January animal cruelty conviction, the online classified ad website, Kijiji, has taken measures to ban the duo from advertising puppies.

Smith said she believes the couple now uses different computers and different email addresses to post ads on Kijiji, and that they also have family members sell puppies for them. “I can still recognize their ads when they pop up,” said Smith, “and I notify Kijiji. “At one time they posted their ads in capital letters and used different type colours. They don’t do that any more, but I can still spot their ads.”

She said Benoit and Bailey recently advertised black lab puppies for sale.

Smith was contacted by Amanda Macdonald of Halifax who said she had planned to buy one, but changed her mind when she realized who she was dealing with.

MacDonald told the Courier that Benoit was peeved when she decided not to buy the pup and began telephoning the Halifax woman.

The last call MacDonald received from Benoit was April 8, the day before she was sentenced to 21 days in jail for her assault of a SPCA special constable. “So it looks like I’ll be getting three weeks off,” said MacDonald.