A Courtenay man has been banned from owning animals for 10 years after a provincial court judge found he failed to provide needed care for his 10-year-old English bulldog, Fallen, whose injuries were so severe, she needed to be put down.
Darren Wiebe was given a one-year suspended sentence, 12 months of probation and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.
Wiebe’s dog suffered serious health issues at the time she was surrendered to the Comox and District SPCA branch in May 2016. An investigation by an animal protection officer found that the injuries were a result of months of neglect, which led to charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“She had significant hair loss over most parts of her body and her skin was yellow, scabby, infected and bleeding,” said B.C. SPCA senior animal protection officer Tina Heary. “Her eyes were filled with pus and bleeding, she had a gangrenous odour and her toes were raw and bloody.”
Fallen had to be euthanized.
A necropsy report found that she was underweight with chronically inflamed eyes and ears and that she had severe demodectic mange, which is an inflammatory disease, and a secondary skin infection that had caused pain and suffering.
The veterinarian who submitted the report noted the dog’s condition could have been treated had it been addressed, as the injuries developed after months of neglect.
“Wiebe admitted that Fallen’s condition had been declining but he did not seek help for her,” said Heary. “Fallen’s pain and suffering, and ultimately her death, was a direct result of neglect.”
Heary said the case is an important reminder to all pet owners to ensure they get proper veterinary care for their pets.
“The tragedy was that this was preventable, this was treatable,” she said.
The B.C. SPCA, funded by community donations, carries out nearly 10,000 investigations of animal cruelty and neglect each year.
