Published on February 5th, 2010
Published on March 1st, 2010
Chris Hayes Animal likely froze to death, says official

BARRACHOIS - The SPCA is investigating a possible case of animal abuse after finding the body of a dog lying dead on the frozen ground in a wooded area Wednesday.
Kristian Williams, executive director of the Nova Scotia SPCA, said Thursday the body of the male bull mastiff mixed breed that was found in an isolated logging area in Barrachois has been taken to Truro where a veterinarian will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The autopsy will likely show whether the dog froze to death, she said.

"This is clear that there is a case here to be investigated and potentially charges that may result and once we know more from the (autopsy), we will be able to determine the course of the investigation," she said.
Nova Scotia law refers to cases of animals being placed in distress, which applies to abuse, neglect or cruelty, she said.
Williams said the SPCA won't reveal the identity of the dog's owner unless charges are laid.
Barrachois resident Joe Bona had the police called after finding the dog dead on the logging property near his home.
It appeared to Bona that the dog had frozen to death.
Bona said he became worried about the animal, which appeared to be a watchdog for a wood cutting operation, a number of years ago.
He called the SPCA in 2007 after observing that the dog's chain was often tangled up in stumps and bushes so that it couldn't reach its doghouse and there didn't appear to be food or water regularly available for the animal, said Bona.
A doghouse on the property appeared to offer little shelter from the weather, he said.
Bona said the dog's situation didn't appear to have improved at all when he returned after the SPCA visit.
After calling the SPCA a second time to again report on the dog's condition, Bona said he gave up on the agency.
Bona said he called the man he thought owned the dog but was told to mind his own business. A police officer warned him after that conversation not to call again, said Bona.
He said the SPCA didn't do an adequate followup job to ensure the dog was not being mistreated.
Bona said when he first saw the body of the dog Wednesday afternoon, there was a chain around its neck but when he returned with news reporters and photographers later, it was no longer around the animal's neck, suggesting to him that someone had been there between his visits.
Williams said the dog was found lying on pine trees within about three feet of a doghouse wearing a thick black collar but no chain, although there was a chain nearby fastened to what appeared to be an old bus.
The dog, which was about medium size for the breed, weighed about 60 pounds, which was very thin for a dog of that size and breed, she said.
There were two doghouses on the property - one was in very poor condition and the other was in reasonable shape but with water inside that was frozen.
Williams confirmed the SPCA did receive a complaint about the owner of the dog and the property in 2007, but the owner agreed to remove the animal from the property and so the case was closed.
An SPCA inspector did a followup visit just before Christmas at which time there were no concerns with the dog and its environment, she said.
She said the case underlines the way in which the SPCA relies on the public to report possible cases of animals in distress.
The SPCA will work with police officers who were also on the scene when the body of the dog was taken away, she said.

chayes@cbpost.com

SPCA investigating after dead dog found outside
Barrachois resident Joe Bona crouches next to the frozen body of a dog he discovered Wednesday, only a few feet from an uninsulated doghouse near a wood cutting operation on Barrachois Mountain.