A Clearwater resident was sent to jail after breaching the conditions of his animal cruelty conviction.
Kurtis Leo Gordon Elliot’s conditional sentence order was terminated after he failed to comply with the terms of his sentence, according to a press release from BC SPCA.
In May 2025, Elliot was found guilty of animal cruelty after the BC SPCA removed 15 dogs and puppies from his property. The conditions in which the animals were kept led to the euthanization of three dogs because they were in such poor physical and psychological conditions.
“The animals were discovered to be living in distress amongst built-up feces, suffering from frostbite due to being kept outdoors in subzero temperatures. They were severely emaciated and without access to food or water,” the press release says.
BC SPCA said the dogs and puppies were ingesting any items they could find at the time, including plastic, bedding and plywood in order to ward off their hunger.
“Despite extensive veterinary efforts, three of the dogs were in such poor physical and psychological conditions that humane euthanasia was required to relieve their suffering,” the release reads.
On May 27, 2025, Elliot was sentenced to a conditional sentence order for one year. Such a sentence permits the offender to serve their time in the community, usually under strict terms of house arrest or curfew, the release says.
The Kamloops Law Courts also made an order barring Elliot from owning, having the custody or control of, or residing in the same premises as an animal or bird for a period of ten years, with exceptions for one adult cat and a number of goldfish already in his possession.
According to a BC SPCA release dated June 3, 2025, Elliot’s sentencing permitted him to live with animals owned by tenants or renters on his property, as long as he advised the BC SPCA of the animals in writing. After five years, he would also be allowed to have custody and control of and live in the same premises as two additional sprayed or neutered dogs.
In September 2025, Elliot breached his house arrest condition, the Feb. 9 press release says.
“On Dec. 15, 2025, the court reinstated his conditional sentence order. One week later, he breached his house arrest condition again,” the press release says.
“On Jan. 27, 2026, the court terminated the conditional sentence order, which means Elliot will serve the remaining time in a traditional custodial facility. “
According to the release, it is anticipated he will remain in jail until early July 2026.
‘Appalling’ instance of dog starvation
In the June 3 BC SPCA release, Eileen Drever, senior officer protection and stakeholder relations with the organization, said at the time that they were relieved that the investigation resulted in a conviction, but “deeply disappointed by the leniency of the sentence given the severity of this animal cruelty case.
“In my 45 years with the organization, this stands out as one of the most appalling instances of dog starvation I have encountered. These dogs endured immense suffering, all so their ‘guardian’ could profit from their misery, making the light sentence even more difficult to accept,” she said.
She added that a prohibition on owning animals can be a powerful tool to prevent people convicted of animal cruelty from having more animals.
“The length of a ban needs to be long enough for the convicted to feel its impact, and the stipulations need to be clear and easily enforceable,” she said.
“Dogs are sentient beings capable of experiencing fear, suffering and joy. They are not commodities to be exploited – they deserve compassion, dignity and respect.”
The release says that, despite the significant cost of the animal cruelty investigation and the necessary medical care for the dogs, Elliot was not ordered to pay any fines or retribution to the BC SPCA.
“The BC SPCA believes a stricter sentencing, including a lifetime ban on owning animals, would have been more appropriate given the horrific conditions of the dogs involved in this case.”
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