RCMP officer adopts dog after ‘brutal attack’ in northern Alberta

Two dogs who were tied up to the front porch of a home in Fort McKay, Alta. were attacked with a weapon by a neighbour, RCMP said.

Police went to a residence at 9 a.m. on Sunday after a report of a man attacking two dogs with a weapon.

“The dogs had been chained to the front porch of the owner’s residence,” RCMP said in a news release, “and would have had no way to escape the brutal attack.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The dogs had been chained to the front porch of the owner's residence," RCMP said in a news release, "and would have had no way to escape the brutal attack."

The older dog did not require urgent medical attention. The younger dog – who is eight months old – needed surgery.

The owner, who was unable to continue caring for Carl the dog, transferred ownership to one of the responding officers, who wanted to make sure the eight-month-old dog was cared for.

When the officer took the puppy to the vet, they found out it had multiple skull fractures and had to have one eye removed.

Once Carl is well enough to be released from the vet, he will go home with the officer.

“Carl is still doing well,” Cpl. Erika Laird said. “I have heard he is settling in well.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Carl is still doing well," Cpl. Erika Laird said. "I have heard he is settling in well."

Brian Boucher, 36, from Fort McKay, has been arrested and charged with two counts of injuring an animal and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

His first court appearance is set for March 3 in Fort McMurray.

RCMP initially did not include Boucher’s age in their news release. On Wednesday, they added it in an updated release.

“The Wood Buffalo RCMP has received several reports from individuals who have online social media accounts with the names Brian Boucher,” Laird said. “All the individuals that have those accounts have contacted our office regarding threats they have been receiving online or harassing comments that they have been receiving.

“We are investigating them as they come in but we would like to encourage people to refrain from making threatening or bullying messages online regardless of who they are directed to.”

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RCMP said reports of threats or harassment will be investigated and could result in Criminal Code charges.

“We are not releasing the details of those investigations right now,” Laird said. “We did just did begin them. We are cautioning people to stop before it gets any worse.”