EDMONTON- A crown prosecutor is seeking jail time, in what he calls one of the worst animal cruelty cases he’s ever seen.
On Wednesday, 20-year-old Kristopher Barwell pled guilty to one count of causing wounding, maiming, injuring and or causing unnecessary pain or suffering to a dog.
The charges date back to July 2012, when Barwell’s neighbours say they looked outside and saw him beating his Border Collie, Zeus.
“It was awful,” said Yvonne Scott. “I can’t imagine what any animal or person could do to deserve to be treated that way. The impact of the beating that I saw I’m sure would have broken my bones and I’m over 100 pounds larger than that puppy was at the time.”
Zeus was eventually taken to the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS), after Barwell’s family members found the young pup in medical distress, unable to walk.
Zeus’ injuries were so severe, staff at the humane society didn’t think he would live through the night.
“We thought that he would die the first night he came to us. He was so broken and just in awful, awful shape,” said spokesperson Shawna Randolph, who added Zeus was about four months old when he arrived at the EHS in August.
According to an agreed statement of facts read Wednesday, Zeus suffered deep puncture wounds to his head and ear, had several burn marks around his neck, and suffered more than one fracture in his pelvis. He was also found with chipped teeth, burns on his hip and leg, as well as maggots around his head and neck.
“This animal was basically blinded, had infections to his ears, and had cuts that had been around for a while, clear evidence that it had been dehydrated and malnourished. Not to mention, of course, the physical abuse, which was shown clearly on the bones and just simply the way that the dog was not able to walk,” added Crown Prosecutor Christian Lim.
However, after going through months of treatment, Zeus- who is now named Kaden for his fighting spirit- is being called a miracle.
“It’s amazing that he is the way he is now,” Randolph said. “He was this broken puppy, just this crumpled little Border Collie that couldn’t even lift up his head to drink. Now he runs, he can climb stairs, it’s amazing. It’s wonderful, the outcome, but it is absolutely heart-wrenching what he went through.”
The crown says animal cruelty cases are taken very seriously, and as a result there’s “no question” jail time will be sought in this case.
“Certainly, it’s one of our worst (cases) and considering the recent decisions here, we’re going to have a look at deterrence and denunciation being paramount with the sentencing, which means jail time,” said Lim.
A decision those at the humane society agree with.
“We want a deterrent out there for people to think twice before they’re ever going to do the same sort of thing to an animal,” said Randolph. “Animals need dignity, respect. They deserve that from humans.”
Barwell is scheduled to appear in court May 14, to receive his sentencing date.
With files from Shannon Greer.
Follow @CaleyRamsay
Comments