Man in rottweiler rescue case pleads guilty
Updated: Wed Sep. 24 2008 3:30:28 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

The Toronto Humane Society officer at the centre of a 2007 controversy over a rottweiler dying in an SUV pronounced satisfaction after the dog's former owner pleaded guilty in court.

Tre Smith told reporters Wednesday that the individual pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty and has been ordered to pay $3,500 to the humane society.

The man, who formally received a conditional discharge, will also be banned from owning any animal for a year and has formally relinquished ownership of Cyrus. The dog's foster family will now take permanent responsibility for Cyrus.

In a news release, the society said: "This precedent-setting judgment is the first criminal conviction under section 446.1C of the Criminal Code of Canada (did not provide adequate care)."

On July 31, 2007, Smith had broken into the man's vehicle to rescue Cyrus, who was dying from the high temperatures inside.

He struggled with the man, then handcuffed him to the vehicle while he rushed the critically ill dog to a veterinary hospital. The man later alleged that angry bystanders beat him.

"There's two things I needed to do that day -- Rescue a rottweiler named Cyrus and save his life, and to protect myself and the good Samaritans who were helping me," Smith said.

Cyrus "was on death's door," he said. Without help from those bystanders, "we'd be dealing with the death of a dog, and not the rescue of a dog," he said.

The Toronto Humane Society can use the reimbursement money, given that it is funded almost entirely on donations from the public, he said. "Given that this $3,500 came directly out of our pockets, I'm glad we were able to recoup the costs incurred in the rescue and rehabilitation of the suspect's dog," Smith said.

People should consider this case as a warning to take animal protection seriously, he said.