Par Me Stéphanie Cloutier, avocate
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Have you ever wondered what you would do if, one fine morning, you found the parrot of your dreams perched on your balcony? After feeding, watering, and sheltering this adorable ball of feathers, what would you do with it? Morality would undoubtedly dictate that you immediately take steps to find its rightful owner. But what if, on that day, morality wasn't a factor, and you simply felt like keeping it? Beyond a moral obligation, do you believe you have a LEGAL duty to find the rightful owner of a found parrot? The answer is YES!
Remarque : Cet article est fondé sur la législation et la jurisprudence du Québec seulement; il ne rend pas compte du régime juridique des autres provinces canadiennes.
In Quebec law, a domestic animal is considered movable property, just like a piece of jewelry, a television, or a wallet. In case of loss, the provisions of Articles 939 to 946 of the Civil Code of Quebec apply.
First, Article 940 of the Civil Code of Quebec sets out a clear and unequivocal rule:
« Celui qui trouve un bien doit tenter d’en retrouver le propriétaire; le cas échéant, il doit lui remettre le bien. »
Maintenant, quelles sont les limites de cette obligation? Il y a effectivement un moment où vous pourrez légitimement devenir propriétaire du perroquet trouvé, mais vous devez d’abord accomplir différentes formalités et laisser s’écouler un délai pour permettre au possesseur légitime de se manifester. Par ailleurs, l’acquisition d’un bien par écoulement du temps, d’un perroquet dans ce cas-ci, ne peut jamais se faire sous le couvert de la mauvaise foi. La possession doit être publique. C’est donc dire que vous ne pouvez pas garder pour vous la découverte de ce perroquet, que vous souhaitiez ou non éviter que son propriétaire légitime puisse vous retrouver. En fait, c’est tout le contraire : vous avez le devoir légal de déclarer publiquement ce fait et ne pouvez simplement pas vous contenter de regarder vous-même les avis de recherche. L’article 941 énonce les différentes démarches que vous devez obligatoirement entreprendre pour tenter de retrouver le possesseur légitime :
1) Contact your local SPCA and/or any other relevant organization, such as Perroquet Secours, to report that you have found a parrot;
2) Put up several posters on poles, in shops and veterinary clinics in the municipality where the parrot was found;
3) Publish an ad in the local newspaper or on classified ad websites (for example: pacs, Kijiji);
4) Contact a peace officer. This last option, as you will have understood, only applies if you have reason to suspect that the found parrot could be linked to a criminal investigation such as a theft.
After undertaking any of the steps outlined above, you will not become the actual owner of the parrot until a very long time has passed. In fact, Article 2919 of the Civil Code of Quebec stipulates that: « Le possesseur de bonne foi d’un [bien] meuble en acquiert la propriété par trois (3) ans à compter de la dépossession du propriétaire. » C’est donc dire que si, au cours de ce délai de trois ans, le possesseur légitime du perroquet se manifeste, vous n’aurez pas d’autre choix que de le lui remettre. En contrepartie, vous pourrez toutefois lui réclamer tous les frais de subsistance encourus durant la possession, à savoir la nourriture, les soins vétérinaires payés etc.
Si vous décidez de ne pas conserver le perroquet trouvé, la loi vous autorise à vous en départir avant la fin du délai de trois ans et ce, malgré que vous n’en soyez pas encore réellement propriétaire. Mais attention! Vous n’avez pas le droit de vendre, voire de donner ledit perroquet avant la fin d’un délai raisonnable à compter de la découverte, pour que le possesseur légitime ait eu toutes les chances de vous retrouver. Malheureusement, il existe peu de décisions judiciaires qui permettent de définir avec exactitude ce qu’est un « délai raisonnable » en pareille situation. Toutefois, à la lumière des propos tenus par le juge Gosselin dans la décision Perreault c. Société pour la prévention contre la cruauté envers les animaux (SPCA) de l’Ouest du Québec inc., 2006 QCCQ 6770 (CanLII), il semble approprié de suggérer une attente de 60 jours avant d’envisager la cession du perroquet trouvé.
Furthermore, it is important to know that once a found parrot has been given away or sold to a third party, its rightful owner unfortunately loses all rights to subsequently reclaim it directly. Within three years, the owner can claim, at most, the sale price (less any living and disposal costs), unless the new owner freely agrees to return the parrot. Even so, should the rightful owner contact you at any time, you are obligated to provide them with the name and contact information of the person to whom you gave or sold the parrot.
En conclusion, sachez que si vous dérogez à ces dispositions du Code civil du Québec, vous vous exposez à des poursuites légales et pourriez alors être condamné à verser au possesseur légitime du perroquet une somme considérable en dommages matériels, moraux et punitifs pouvant facilement atteindre plusieurs dizaines de milliers de dollars. Voulez-vous vraiment prendre ce risque? Vous avez assurément fait une bonne action en accueillant sous votre toit ce perroquet perdu et en détresse. Si la tentation vous guette, rappelez-vous ceci : « Les [biens] meubles qui sont perdus […] continuent d’appartenir à leur propriétaire – article 939 C.c.Q » Puis, prenez un instant pour penser que quelque part, dans un foyer non loin de chez vous, il y a probablement quelqu’un en pleurs, un homme, une femme, un enfant, qui attend désespérément le retour de son compagnon.
[1] If you are not interested in adopting this parrot or selling it for profit, you can entrust its care to your local SPCA or any other relevant organization, such as Perroquet Secours, which will take care of it and search for its rightful owner. You will then have fulfilled all your legal obligations.
Par Me Stéphanie Cloutier, avocate
« Le présent texte a été rédigé en tenant compte des textes législatifs et jurisprudentiels en vigueur dans la province de Québec seulement et ne reflètent pas l’état du droit dans les autres provinces canadiennes. »
© All rights reserved. Perroquetsecours, 2012.
By Stéphanie Cloutier, Lawyer
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Have you ever wondered what you would do if on a fine morning, you found the parrot of your dreams perched on your balcony? Once this adorable bundle of feathers has been fed, watered and put in a safe place, what would you do? Obviously, morality would dictate that you start looking for its legitimate owner. But, what if you turned a deaf ear to the voice of ethics on that very day and chose to keep your find? Besides the moral responsibility, did you know that you are LEGALLY bound to look for the legitimate owner of your found parrot? YES indeed you are!
Note: This paper is based on the statutes and case laws in use in the province of Québec; it does not reflect the legal system of other Canadian provinces.
According to Quebec’s law, any domestic animal is considered no less than a moveable effect, in the same way a jewel, a TV set or a wallet are. In case of loss, the provisions set out in clauses 939 to 946 of the Civil Code of Quebec apply. First of all, the rule stated in clause 940 is clear and unequivocal:
“The finder of a thing shall attempt to find its owner; if he finds him, he shall return it to him”.
Is there any limit to this obligation? At some point you could legitimately claim ownership of the found parrot, provided you fulfill some procedures and after a certain period of time during which the legitimate owner can reclaim his property. Nothing, in this case the found parrot, can be acquired in bad faith through completion of an agreed period. In other words, you have to make public the finding of the bird in your possession. That is, if you find a parrot, you cannot keep it secret, whether or not you’d like to avoid being retraced by its legitimate owner. It’s quite the contrary actually: you are legally obligated to publish your find and you cannot merely peruse the wanted ads on your own. Clause 941 describes the various steps you must take in order to try and find the legitimate owner :
1) Contact your local SPCA and/or any relevant organisation, such as Perroquet Secours, to notify them that you have found a parrot;
2) Post several found notices on street poles, in merchants’ stores and animal clinics of the municipality in whose territory the parrot was found;
3) Publish a found notice in the local newspaper or in classified websites (such as lespacs, Kijiji, Craig’s list);
4) Contact a peace officer. This last option applies only if you have reasons to believe that the parrot you have found could have something to do with a criminal investigation, like in the case of a robbery.
Once you’ve taken any one of these steps, you still won’t become the genuine owner of said parrot before a very, very long time. According to Clause 2919 of the Civil Code of Quebec: “The possessor in good faith of movable property acquires the ownership of it by three years running from the dispossession of the owner”. In other words, if the owner shows up during that three-year period, you’ll have to hand the parrot over. In return, you can ask the owner to reimburse you for all the expenses incurred while keeping the parrot, such as food, veterinarian fees, and so on.
If you choose not to keep the parrot, the law allows you to dispose of it before the end of the three-year period, even if you’re not its real owner yet. But beware! You cannot sell the parrot, nor give it away before the end of a reasonable period of time after having found it, in order to give its legitimate owner full opportunity to retrace you. Unfortunately, they are few court judgements to help accurately define the duration of a “reasonable period” in such case. Nevertheless, in light of Justice Gosselin’s comments in his ruling of Perreault vs. Société pour la prévention contre la cruauté envers les animaux (SPCA) de l’Ouest du Québec inc., 2006 QCCQ 6770 (CanLII), it would seem appropriate to suggest a 60-day waiting time before considering to dispose of the found parrot.
It is also important to note that after the bird is given or sold to a third party, its legitimate owner losses any and all future privilege to claim it. At best, the owner has three years after losing his bird to claim an amount equal to the sale’s price (minus living and disposition expenses), unless the new owner freely agrees to return the parrot to him. Despite this, should the legitimate owner contact you at any time, you are obliged to give him the name and address of the person to whom the parrot was given or sold.
In conclusion, be aware that infringing these clauses of the Civil Code of Québec exposes you to legal action, and you could end up being condemned to pay material, moral and punitive damages that can easily reach several thousands of dollars. Do you really wish to take that risk? You most certainly did a good deed when you took in that lost and distressed parrot. If you are ever tempted to keep the bird, remember this: “A movable that is lost […] continues to belong to its owner”. (Clause 939 CCQ). If that is not enough, please consider that somewhere in a house closer that you’d think, someone in tears desperately awaits the return of his or her cherished companion.
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[1] If you do not wish to adopt the parrot you’ve found or to sell it for profit, you can bring it to your local SPCA or a relevant organization like Perroquet Secours; these organizations will take care of the bird and look for its legitimate owner. This way, you fulfill all your legal obligations.
Stéphanie Cloutier, Lawyer
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