A 34 year old man from Spryfield, has been charged with animal cruelty under the Animal Protection Act of NS.
Gary Franklin was charged with causing his dog to be in distress contrary to section 21 (1) of the Animal Protection Act of NS
In January, 2018, SPCA officers received a call from Halifax regional police that a pitbull type dog had been seized from a property after it was found freezing and tethered outside during a cold snap for several hours in January. The dog was brought to the SPCA for care and treatment. It was also determined that the dog was suffering from medical conditions that required treatment.
The owner was provided the required seizure appeal form and he filed an application with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture’s Animal Cruelty Appeal Board. A hearing was held and the appeal board overturned the seizure and ordered the return of the dog to the owner.
The Nova Scotia SPCAs’ Chief Provincial Inspector JoAnne Landsburg said, “I’m very disappointed and concerned that the appeal board has once again returned an animal to a situation after it was placed in harm’s way and suffering from untreated medical illness. It is very important that we send a strong message that you cannot leave your pet outside in freezing temperatures, and this isn’t it.”
Franklin is due to appear in court on March 8, 2018 in Halifax Provincial Court.
The NS SPCA operates on a policy of zero tolerance for animal cruelty and sets the standard of animal care for the province of Nova Scotia. The NS SPCA urges you to report acts of animal cruelty by contacting our confidential toll free hotline at: 1-888-703-7722
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Source: Media Release