Animal control officers found Collier’s dog in her basement with a festering open wound. They charged her with cruelty to animals. The dog was taken to a veterinarian, who determined that it had been in that condition for one to two years. The dog was euthanized.
Sentencing of Collier, who pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty. She was charged with causing pain to a dog by refusing to obtain veterinary treatment for it. Animal control officers found Collier’s dog in her basement with a festering open wound. They charged her with cruelty to animals. Collier was 64 years old and had no prior criminal record.
Held: Collier was given a conditional sentence of 60 days, as well as a term of probation. Collier was further prohibited from owning or being in a residence with animals for a period of two years, and she was ordered to pay restitution of the $700 veterinary bill. The restitution was to be paid to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Despite Collier’s lack of criminal record, this was a crime which required specific and general deterrence and denunciation.