Castlegar woman charged with animal cruelty and neglect
By Castlegar Source
A 56-year-old Castlegar woman has been criminally charged after a witness saw her allegedly being cruel to an animal and called the RCMP, according to RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew.
“Investigation revealed that the cat had been suffering from medical issues,” she said. “It appears the animal had been suffering from the medical issues for an extended amount of time before ultimately being abandoned in the bushes.”
Police received the complaint on June 1 and searched for the cat, but it was never found and is now presumed dead.
Charges include: Willfully permitting unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to an animal, contrary to section 445.1(1)(a) and; willfully neglecting or failing to provide suitable, adequate, food, water, shelter and care, contrary to section 446(1)(b).
The woman’s name is not being released until her first court appearance on Jan. 13, 2016 in Castlegar.
“Pet owners are responsible for the health and well-being of their pet, and required to provide proper medical attention if their animal needs it,” Mathew said. “There are sections in the Criminal Code, per above, that will hold negligent pet owners accountable for the care (or lack thereof) of their animal.
“It is a criminal offence to cause an animal distress by abandoning it.”
There are also similar provisions in the Protection of Cruelty to Animals Act which stipulate that persons responsible for animals must protect them from being in circumstances that are likely to cause the animal to be in distress.”
