Kamloops resident Christopher Mathes is facing a charge of animal cruelty after allegedly beating to death his family’s dog on Thanksgiving last year.
BC SPCA investigators said the incident happened after a family dinner when Jersey, a five-year-old Chihuahua-mix, bit a family member and caused a small wound.
“Mathes allegedly took the dog outside and beat him repeatedly over the head with a four-foot-long fence post,” said BC SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty.
“The BC SPCA was alerted to the situation and found the dog buried in a cardboard box.”
The necropsy performed on Jersey showed that the dog, which was adopted by the family through a rescue group, died of blunt force trauma caused by several blows to the head.
If convicted, Mathes could face a maximum fine of $75,000, up to five years in jail or up to a lifetime ban on owning animals.