BOWMANVILLE, Ont. – Police say a man is facing an animal cruelty charge after allegedly assaulting a dog on a highway off-ramp east of Toronto.
Durham regional police say officers responded Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a man assaulting a dog on a Highway 401 ramp in Bowmanville, Ont.
“Citizens called in stating that they had seen the suspect with a golden retriever at the side of the road and it appeared that he was viciously attacking this dog or assaulting this dog,” said Durham police Const. George Tudos.
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Tudos said people stopped to aid the animal and try to the suspect, who then allegedly continued to assault the dog within his car.
The dog suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to an emergency animal clinic, police said.
Tudos did not have an update on the dog’s condition, but said things were not “looking positive” for the animal.
Jonathan Dunbar, a 23-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., is charged with cruelty to an animal.
With files from Don Mitchell, 640 Toronto