Monday, March 18, 2024

Duncan couple accused of shocking animal abuse pleads not guilty

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A Duncan couple who was charged with animal cruelty after authorities found a badly abused dog in their possession on February 16th, 2018 has pled not guilty to all charges.

Anderson Joe and Melissa Tooshley were arrested after their dog, Teddy, was found tied up with a rope that was only a few inches long, and standing in a pile of mud and faeces.

Upon closer inspection, it became evident that his collar had dug deep into his neck, causing severe infection and making his head swell up to two to three times its normal size. Teddy succumbed to his injuries on February 18th, just two days after he was rescued.

The case

Joe is facing charges under section 445.1(1) of the Criminal Code (cause unnecessary pain/suffering to an animal) and section 446(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (owner failing to provide necessaries for animal). Tooshley is facing one charge of cruelty under section 446(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.

According to demonstrators from the Justice for Teddy campaign and RainCoast Dog Rescue Society who were at the Duncan courthouse on Tuesday, a family member of the defendants allegedly commented: “It’s just a f**king dog, get over it“.

Jesse Adams of RainCoast Dog Rescue society told Victoria Buzz that the courtroom became heated after this controversial remark, prompting the bailiff to step in and restore order.

A trial date is to be set on Tuesday, June 19th.

Justice for Teddy

Dubbed by the SPCA as “one of the most profoundly shocking and disturbing cases of abuse” they have ever seen, Teddy’s case touched the hearts of everyone who read about it.

This petition to Crown Council and local MLA Doug Routley has therefore been started to hold the owners accountable for their actions, by giving them the maximum penalty possible: five years in prison, a $10,000 fine and a lifetime ban on owning animals.

It has been gaining traction since it’s creation and is currently only 1,000 signatures short of its 140,000 goal.

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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