CALGARY – A suspect has been charged in connection with an animal abuse case in which a dog was found dead and buried in a Renfrew yard last week.
Robert Malcom Nicholson, 34, faces charges including killing an animal without lawful excuse and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Police say the dog was badly beaten and killed with a knife, and suffered a deep cut on his neck.
Nicholson was the leaseholder living in the basement of a home in the 1400 block of Richland Road N.E.; the main floor tenants owned the dog.
Joe Hossay said he came home March 23 to find his door kicked in, suggesting someone had broken in. He said kitchen knives and an axe from the garage were found out of place, and his five-year-old Border Collie-Labrador Chevy was dead in the yard.
Hossay said the killing was a result of a dispute over rent, among other things.
“It just comes down to money,” said Hossay. “Unfortunately the dog is deceased now because of money, and it’s just—that’s not a reason for a dog to die.”
Nicholson also faces criminal charges of breaking and entering, mischief to property, obstruction of justice, as well as causing an animal to be in distress under the Alberta Animal Protection Act.
“He was a good friend and he had a good heart, and whatever is going through his head, I hope it turns for the better for him,” said Hossay.
READ MORE: Police investigate after Calgary family finds dog stabbed, buried in yard
Calgary Humane Society spokesperson Brad Nichols called it a “graphic, violent” incident that doesn’t fit the usual pattern of animal abuse cases.
“Generally speaking when we have an abuse case that results in death, it’s most often the result of an animal behaviour issue,” said Nichols. “That doesn’t seem to be the case here, so this is a rare incident in that the it doesn’t appear to be animal behavior-related.”
The family said the landlord, who rents to the family and the alleged dog attacker, decided to evict the family with one month’s notice following the incident and that the alleged attacker had already moved out.
The family said police told them when the suspect was interviewed, he claimed he hit the dog with his car.
With files from Tony Tighe
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