http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/03/07/pf-4937151.html
March 7, 2008
Microwave cat case going to trial
By MURRAY GREEN AND DANIEL MACISAAC, SUN MEDIA

Two of the youths charged in the microwaving death of a cat in Camrose last year have pleaded not guilty - and will go on trial in June.

Three 15-year-old boys and a 13-year-old were arrested after a series of break-ins and the killing of the cat at a Camrose home Dec. 29 and 30.

"This is highly unusual and disturbing behaviour," Camrose police Insp. Lee Foreman said after the arrest. "It's a cruel thing to do."

The teens, whose identities are protected by law, were charged with break, enter and theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, possession of stolen property, unlawfully killing an animal and causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.

Police kept one of the accused in custody and released the other three to their parents.

And while two of the youths entered not-guilty pleas yesterday, the other pair reserved their plea. They'll appear back in court April 3.

On hand once again outside the courthouse yesterday were members of the Edmonton-based Voice for Animals lobby group, holding placards and distributing literature.

But besides protesting the cat killing, executive director Tove Reece explained the activists had an even bigger concern - the recent passage of controversial federal crime Bill S203 through an Ottawa justice committee.

"The main message today was the betrayal of the animals," she said. "We wanted to get the message out."

Animal-welfare groups complain the bill - designed to protect animals and increase punishments for abuse - doesn't go as far as a rival private-member's bill, C373.

They say it fails to address issues like neglect, puppy mills, dog-fighting, stray animals and cruelty to wildlife.

"Although it seems strange that humane societies and SPCAs are fighting against this bill, it's because it doesn't do enough," said Shelagh MacDonald, program director of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

But Diane Shannon at the Edmonton Humane Society - which received a donation of $1,625 yesterday from St. Angela school students motivated by the recent stories of animal cruelty - described the proposed legislation as "baby steps" in the right direction.

And University of Alberta law professor Sanjeev Anand said the Camrose case may contribute to that change.

"The more types of incidents like this," he said, "the more impetus there's going to be on lawmakers to address the problem."