UPDATE: Aug. 17, 2015 – A 24-year-old woman has been charged with animal cruelty in the brutal attack of black Labrador Ryder on Valentine’s Day.
Lindsey Susan Hirtreiter has been charged with two counts under the Criminal Code of Canada and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Eileen Drever, senior animal protection officer for the BC SPCA, noted that assistance from the RCMP was instrumental in moving the case forward. “We are extremely pleased that charges have now been approved in this very sad case,” she said in a release. “No animal should have to go through the pain and suffering that this poor dog endured.”
If convicted, Hirtreiter faces a maximum fine up to $75,000, up to two years in jail and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals.
Coverage from Feb. 19, 2015:
VANCOUVER – It has been an emotional roller coaster for a Surrey family and their dog, Ryder.
The three-year-old black Lab is still struggling to recover after a horrible case of animal cruelty.
Ryan Westaway and his family moved to Surrey’s Chimney Heights neighbourhood in northeast Newton a few weeks ago. On Feb. 14, Ryder, three years old and still getting used to his new surroundings, ran off.
They couldn’t find him that night, but he was discovered the next morning. Surrey RCMP told Westaway that Ryder had been stabbed with scissors in the face and eye and beaten with a blunt object. There were also pieces of jewellery and other items put in his body.
Westaway says Ryder is getting better, but he still has a long road to recovery. “His eyes have really taken a, there’s hemorrhaging in his eyelids and his eyes have been brutally beaten,” says Westaway. “And the objects that were stuffed in his eye were, had done a fair bit of damage to his retina area.”
“He definitely has an infection in one of his eyes and he can’t open it.”
Westaway says on Wednesday, Ryder was able to pass the last object, a heart pendant, that was unable to be removed from his stomach.
“Other than that, he’s timid and he’s in shock,” says Westaway. “He’s gone through a lot, by all means, it’s frightening to know that somebody out there could do this to an animal.”
A 24-year-old woman has been taken in custody under the Mental Health Act.
Westaway says the community support for Ryder has been amazing. A fundraising page has raised more than $20,000 and although the funding page has been closed, any leftover money will be donated to the BC SPCA. It is not yet known how expensive Ryder’s care will be. Another page is still open however, and Westaway says additional funds from that page will go to help animals in need.
“It’s been unbelievable, the outreach and the support from people and animal lovers,” says Westaway.
“I’m unbelievably grateful and my family thanks them.”
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