Owner of dog found in Kitsilano dumpster charged with animal cruelty

On July 18, Kitsilano residents discovered a malnourished German shepherd in a dumpster on Maple. The dog was wrapped in a bloody towel and covered in cuts and bruises. The dog died the next day, despite receiving vet care. As of Dec. 4, several local newspapers including the Sun report:

“Animal cruelty charges have been laid against the owner of Captain, the two-year-old German shepherd left for dead in a dumpster this summer.

The dog’s owner was charged under the Criminal Code and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a lifetime ban on owning animals and a $75,000 fine.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received an outpouring of emotion and outrage following Captain’s death. A vigil was held in his honour and more than $70,000 was donated in online campaign to raise money for the SPCA investigation.

‘We deal with thousands of cases every year and deal with heartbreaking cases every day, but I think this particular case — the image of this dog, critically ill, lying in a dumpster — really touched people’s hearts,’ said Lorrie Chortyk, SPCA community relations manager.

Captain had once been a police dog candidate but was deemed too friendly, the SPCA said this summer.”

Read more here.

Meanwhile, The Globe an Mail reports: “Brian Whitlock’s lawyer says it’s too early to say what plea his client will enter on a charge of beating a German shepherd and leaving it to die in a Kitsilano dumpster this year, but adds there are sides to the story that the public doesn’t yet know.”

 

Last modified: December 4, 2012