VANCOUVER – The B.C. justice ministry is warning the public about the release of a 25-year-old woman who was convicted of brutally killing animals.

The ministry issued a public notification that says Kayla Bourque is a violent offender with an escalating criminal history.

The warning says she poses a high risk to reoffend and plans to live in New Westminster, B.C.

Bourque has also been convicted of killing animals without lawful excuse and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The ministry says 47 court-ordered conditions mean Bourque is on a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, can’t own any animals or possess knives except for food preparation.

A past decision by the B.C. Court of Appeal says she told a psychiatrist that she hanged and dismembered a family dog in 2009 and killed a family cat in a similar way the following year.

That decision also says she told a Simon Fraser University student that she wanted to kill a homeless person and was studying forensics to learn how to evade police.

The New Westminster police says it’s working with ministry and correctional officials to ensure the community is safe.