Powell River resident Aurelle Belanger faces three charges of animal cruelty after allegedly throwing a three-month-old puppy across a room in a fit of rage. Belanger faces two counts of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code of Canada and one count of causing distress to animals under the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The pitbull-cross puppy, formerly known as 'Junior' but now renamed 'Pickle', suffered a badly broken leg from the attack. His painful injury was left untreated for two days until he was brought to a veterinarian on Vancouver Island and the case came to the attention of the SPCA Branch in Comox. "We immediately launched a cruelty investigation and took custody of Pickle," says Hugh Coghill, the BC SPCA's Senior Animal Protection Officer for Vancouver Island. The SPCA paid for surgery to save the puppy's leg and placed Pickle in a foster home during his recovery. The foster family has since adopted the puppy.

Aurelle Belanger makes his first court appearance in Powell River on April 20th.  If convicted of the charges, he faces up to six months in jail, a maximum $2,000 fine and a prohibition on owning or keeping animals.

Update 6/1/05:  Aurelle Belanger was convicted of willfully injuring an animal on May 19 in Powell River provincial court, stemming from an incident in March when a three-month-old puppy was thrown across a room.

Judge John Joe imposed a sentence of one year's probation and 30 hours of community service work, as well as a one-year prohibition from owning or residing with animals.

Belanger's lawyer, Ian Tully-Barr, called two witnesses. Crown counsel John Sinclair also called two witnesses, including a veterinarian from Courtenay who treated the dog and traveled to Powell River to testify.

BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA) paid for the pit bull-cross puppy, now renamed Pickles, to have surgery to save its broken leg. "The dog has received extensive veterinary care, and has been readopted to a new home," said SPCA Constable Tina Heary, who attended the trial.

Reference:

British Columbia SPCA

Peak Reporter