Police conducted two warrantless entries into a rural residence while performing a well‑being check after an animal control officer found the occupant’s injured dog and raised concerns about the occupant’s safety.
During the entries officers observed cannabis in plain view, which later formed the basis for a search warrant and drug charges.
The court applied the Waterfield test and held the entries were justified by the police duty to preserve life and exigent circumstances, making the searches reasonable under s. 8 of the Charter.
The evidence was therefore admissible.
While a large quantity of cannabis and packaging materials were found, the court was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs were possessed for the purpose of trafficking, but found the accused guilty of the included offence of simple possession.
