Dog beaten, left for dead -stable but critical (Ottawa, ON)

[Bamboo]

Original Story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/dog-beaten-nearly-to-death-in-front-of-ottawa-home-1.2075299

Dog beaten nearly to death in front of Ottawa home
WARNING: The following story contains graphic material that may be upsetting to readers

Several residents in the Manor Park area of Ottawa say they are shaken after they say they witnessed a man use a shovel to beat a dog nearly to death.

The incident happened just after noon in front of a house at Barclay Road and Eastbourne Avenue.

Stephane Lalonde said a young man threatened people who tried to intervene as he repeatedly beat a dog with a shovel and then threw its body into a dumpster.

Both the dumpster and the wheelbarrow he used to carry the dog were heavily stained with blood.


"Just disgusted. We're all disgusted. And it's disturbing," said Lalonde.

Rachelle Lacroix said the dog was hers and the culprit was her 24-year-old son Steven, who came to her house Wednesday afternoon.

She said when she refused to open the door her son became angry and took it out on her dog, Breezy.

"And then I saw him picking up the shovel. I went in the kitchen and I called the police, and I said hurry, hurry. My son Steven is killing the dog," she said.

Dog had multiple broken bones

As soon as neighbours could approach, they went to the dumpster. John Gauvin saw the dog at the bottom.

"He was all cut about the head. Every time he exhaled you could see blood coming out of his nose," said Gauvin.

The Humane Society rushed the dog, believed to be an 18-month old German Shepherd-Labrador mix, to receive medical attention.

Veterinarians at the Humane Society said the dog has multiple broken bones and said it was too early to say whether she can be saved.

Ottawa police are investigating and have made an arrest.

The Humane Society is updating on Breezy's condition via facebook and posted this not long ago:
https://www.facebook.com/OttawaHumane

We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the community for their outpouring of concern and offers of help for Breezy, the dog beaten with a shovel and left for dead in the dumpster Wednesday.

Breezy is in stable but critical condition. Vets have reported some hopeful signs but she is at risk of brain swelling and is not yet out of the woods.

PLEASE NOTE: Please do not call our emergency line for updates on Breezy's condition. The emergency line is needed for animal emergencies and it must be available to those in need so we can continue our life-saving work.

 

[temblabamomo]

How horrible :sad3: I hope this poor creature can recover.

 

This awful, it hits close to home, because my dog, Shannon, is a german shep. - lab mix as well, and just thinking about her like that *sobs*.

 

[ChrisK]

I am absolutely horrified by this incident! I saw a brief newscast on it tonight and saw a woman, presumably the mother/owner of the dog, pale and shaking uncontrollably -- clearly in shock. The penalties offered by the law are not severe enough for crimes like this. I think we need to take action to push for the maximum sentence. This kind of behavior must never be tolerated.

My heart goes out to the poor dog. I hear she is in stable but critical condition. i have no idea what it's going to take for her to be well again.... and to ever trust another human.. my heart breaks for her.. she did not deserve this..

 

[jorats]

Omg. What is going on with people.

 

[Joanne]

Well, I think a good punishment is to beat him with a shovel until he's nearly dead, and then toss him in a dumpster. Fair's fair.

 

Well, I think a good punishment is to beat him with a shovel until he's nearly dead, and then toss him in a dumpster. Fair's fair.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

 

[Vladina]

Agreed. Well, actually, a shovel beating and a dumpster are too good for the person who did this. :redhot:

 

[Bamboo]

From the OHS facebook page:

BREEZY UPDATE: Our vet reports that Breezy has been eating on her own and has managed a short walk. She's on pain medication and the vet thinks she will need surgery. We hope to post a picture of Breezy next week.

If you'd like to help, your gift would be used to care for Breezy and support our role in the investigation

 

[jorats]

I can't imagine being Breezy's mom. Watching your own son beat your dog. It must have been terrifying.

 

[mamarat]

such a sad story.

 

[ChrisK]

Thanks for keeping us updated, Bamboo. I am hoping this poor dog will pull thru and that a wonderful person will step up and adopt her, so that she can live out her days in happiness, peace, and know real love.

I'm really grateful to know a community (RatShack!) who values and respects the lives of animals. It's horrifying how much cruelty people are capable of, and how little our laws protect animals. Clearly we need more laws, and stronger laws to protect them.

 

[Bamboo]

From the OHS facebook:

BREEZY UPDATE: Breezy continues to recover. She's responding when her name is called, vets report.

If you'd like to help, your gift would be used to care for Breezy and support our role in the investigation:

 

[ChrisK]

Hang in there Breezy!

 

[temblabamomo]

From the OHS facebook page:

BREEZY UPDATE: Our vet reports that Breezy has been eating on her own and has managed a short walk. She's on pain medication and the vet thinks she will need surgery. We hope to post a picture of Breezy next week.

If you'd like to help, your gift would be used to care for Breezy and support our role in the investigation

Oh! The eating is good news. Hang in there sweet pup!

Sent from my SCH-I415 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bamboo]

BREEZY UPDATE: Breezy has been going for walks and eating on her own. Vets say her health has improved, though she is still considered to be in critical condition. She suffered serious head and chest injuries in the attack and needs further testing to ensure she is healthy enough for anesthesia before surgery.
The OHS wants to sincerely thank the community for its outpouring of interest in Breezy’s well-being. Those who wish to contribute to her care and the investigation can do so by visiting the OHS website at
http://www.ottawahumane.ca/breezy

 

[Carol Weekes]

Poor dog; all I can say is that the guy who did this needs to be committed to a psy ward because he is dangerous and with a temper and loss of control like that, would likely do it again whenever he 'loses his temper'. If he goes to jail, even briefly, he will likely meet a similar fate to that which he dealt to this dog - and no one would care much if he did. He's a sick individual. Glad to see the dog is starting to stabilize.

 

[Joanne]

Thanks for keeping us updated Bamboo!
I'm glad she continues to recover.

 

[Bamboo]

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petitio..._in_a_dumpster_in_Ottawa_Ontario_Canada/?pv=2

JUSTICE FOR BREEZY (Dog kicked and beaten with a shovel and rake, and tossed in a dumpster in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Why this is important

In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on October 16, 2013, several people claim to have witnessed a man kick a dog repeatedly and then use a shovel and rake to beat her, put her into a wheelbarrow, and dump her into a dumpster, leaving her for dead. The man also allegedly threatened, with the rake, those who attempted to intervene, warning them to stay back. The Labrador-German Shepherd cross dog, named Breezy, suffered deep lacerations to her face and other significant traumatic injuries requiring extensive surgery, which cannot be undertaken until her health improves. Nearly a week after she was beaten, Breezy is still considered by veterinarians to be in critical condition despite the fact she is now walking and eating on her own. Breezy belongs to the mother of the person who was taken into custody after the event, 24-year-old Steven Helfer.

Police subsequently charged Helfer with one count of “injuring or endangering animals” and one count of “wilfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to an animal” under the Criminal Code of Canada. Helfer was also charged with intimidation, criminal harassment, and two counts of assault with a weapon. Breezy is currently in the care of the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS), and according to OHS spokesperson Natalie Pona (as reported in the Ottawa Citizen), Breezy will not be returned to her owner.

If convicted of one or more of the animal cruelty charges, Helfer faces up to 5 years in jail if Crown proceeds by way of an indictable offence, or up to 18 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if they proceed by summary conviction.

THE PETITION:
We the undersigned respectfully request that Crown Attorneys proceed by way of an indictable offence in this case and that, IF Steven Helfer is found guilty of one or more of the charges of animal cruelty against the Labrador-German Shepherd cross dog named Breezy, Crown Attorneys recommend to the judge the maximum sentence available under the law and the honourable sentencing Judge in the Ontario Court of Justice apply the maximum sentence available for these offences.

We also request that, if Steven Helfer is found guilty, the court, in accordance with Section 447.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada, “make an order prohibiting the accused from owning, having the custody or control of or residing in the same premises as an animal or a bird” for the rest of his lifetime.

Please sign and share this petition to Crown Counsel and the judge to get justice for Breezy.

For further information about this petition, please see the following Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/JusticeForCaptainPetition

For updates about Breezy, or to make a donation for her care or to help fund the OHS’s support of the police investigation, please see the following web page: http://www.ottawahumane.ca/breezy

LINKS TO NEWS STORIES ABOUT THIS CASE:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ot ... -1.2101451

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Brave ... story.html

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-dog-bea ... -1.1506918

http://www.1310news.com/2013/10/22/beat ... g-surgery/

 

[mamarat]

That poor dog. Thanks for the update.