Douglas and Enza Pattison of Prior Street in Victoria are charged under the Cruelty to Animals Act as well as the Criminal Code of Canada.
Tiny, the 10-year-old Shih Tzu was found in August wandering on Prior Street. Thick matts covered open sores infested with maggots and flies. She was dehydrated, emaciated and her liver and kidneys were shutting down.
At the time, the vet who treated her said she had clearly been neglected for quite some time and that her prognosis was grim.
Earlier this month, Tiny had to be put down. She was just too weak to fight the good fight back to health.
Her former owner said he thought she had just had a bout with diarrhea and that he had bathed her before he put her out the day before she ‘wandered off’.
He said his wife Enza is the primary owner of the dog. She declined an interview with CTV News.
The Pattison’s appear in court December 3rd to answer to the charges. They could face a fine of up to $75,000, up to five years in jail and a lifetime ban from owning animals.
(CTV Vancouver Island - Nov 14, 2012)
