Family of Dog Shot in Brampton Receives New Puppy

TORONTO – “Following this brutal incident, there has been an outpouring of sympathy for this family, and a nearby neighbour has kindly given the grieving family a ten week old Yorkshire terrier puppy whom the family has named Max, says Michael O’Sullivan, HSC Chairman & CEO. The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) has kindly offered to pay for the veterinary bills associated with his neutering through their Silver Paws Program which assists the elderly and people in difficult circumstances with their veterinary bills. The Humane Society of Canada is still hoping that their $1,000 reward offered through their Victims of Cruelty Program will help to bring to justice the person responsible for shooting Mickey, a Yorkshire Terrier in its owner’s backyard in Brampton on April 29th, 2011. “The reward is for information resulting in the conviction of those responsible for killing this poor little dog,” according to HSC Western Regional Director, Al Hickey. Besides the sheer cruelty of the act, The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) knows that society should be concerned because there is a correlation between animal cruelty and violence against people. More information can be found here.

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“Cruelty to animals is a criminal offence,” says O’Sullivan. “Recent changes to the Canadian Criminal Code mean that offenders face maximum penalties of up to 5 years in prison for indictable offences and for summary convictions - fines of up to $10,000 and up to eighteen months in jail. In addition to the criminal record and fines, the person convicted can also be prohibited from owning, having the custody or control of or residing in the same premises as an animal or a bird for any period that the court considers appropriate but, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, for a minimum of five years. Damages may be awarded by the court to the person or organization that had to pay for the care of the animal as a result of the offence.” The Humane Society of Canada will be asking the court to bar any of those found guilty from owning or working with animals, and will also ask the court to force them to surrender all firearms, and ban them from owning firearms, for as long as the law will allow and if two people or more planned the shooting, they can also be charged with criminal conspiracy. Anyone with information about the shooting of Mickey is asked to contact the Peel Regional Police at 905-453-2121 or The Humane Society of Canada toll free at 1-800-641-KIND (5463). O’Sullivan says that it is these types of crimes involving animals that were responsible for The Humane Society of Canada creating the Victims of Cruelty Program. “We’re hoping that those responsible for these acts of cruelty in Brampton are also apprehended and dealt with accordingly,” says The HSC Chairman & CEO Michael O’Sullivan.