Man accused of making threat against aging dog

CanWest News Service
February 4, 2005

OTTAWA -- An Ontario man was in custody Thursday after allegedly uttering threats against his girlfriend and their dog, a 16-year-old cocker spaniel named Minnie.

The 24-year-old Cornwall man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly held a knife to his pregnant girlfriend's neck and then their dog's neck after he accused them of "screwing something up on his computer," said neighbour Roger Duveau.

The girlfriend ran to his house following the alleged incident, he said, adding he called police.

Duveau said he didn't witness the alleged incident, but said he knows the aging dog suffers from congenitive heart disease.

The man was arrested and charged with uttering a death threat, uttering a death threat against an animal and having a dangerous weapon.

Cornwall Police Sgt. Wayne Holland said the charge of "uttering a death threat against an animal" was a new one for him.

"I've been around a long time and have never seen that one before," said Holland. "It's not a common charge."

Under the Criminal Code, it's an offence if someone knowingly utters, conveys or causes any person to receive a threat "to kill, poison or injure an animal or bird that is the property of any person."

The man's name wasn't released.