In Support of Tre Smith
An animal cruelty investigator for Toronto's Humane Society has had his licence suspended following an incident in which a man was left handcuffed to a car while his pet was taken away for medical treatment.
The captive man later claimed to police he was assaulted by members of the public while chained to his car.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday it would suspend Tre Smith's investigator's licence, pending an investigation of his actions.
It was on a sweltering July 31 afternoon when Smith rushed to save a Rottweiler named Cyrus, who had been sealed in a parked car that was roasting at temperatures nearing 70 C.
Cruelty investigator Tre Smith was sure the dog was near death and didn't have time to wait for the owners to return. So without hesitating, he broke open the window to reach the limp animal. "I could see through this window and there's a large breed Rottweiler, about 110 pounds, slumped over the back seat with his legs up and a blank stare forward, death stare we call it, foaming from the mouth and he was non-responsive. So I immediately smashed the window and opened the car doors and dragged the dog out and brought it onto the pavement."
When Cyrus's owner returned to his car, the owner was handcuffed to the vehicle and left alone while Cyrus was taken away for treatment.
Smith said "He (the suspect) was threatening and abusive and for my own safety,the safety of others around me and for the safety of Cyrus I needed to tend to Cyrus to save his life"
By the time police arrived, the captive man was bleeding, having been allegedly attacked by angry bystanders who witnessed the incident. "The police hadn't got here just yet but they were almost here, and I had to leave because the dog was non-responsive, had stopped breathing and I had to stimulate the dog just to bring him back," he recalled
Smith also has the backing of witness Andrew McGowan.
"He did his job 100%, and I was there for the whole thing," he said.
Smith remains perturbed by the turn his no-win decision has taken. "I'm shocked and stunned and deeply saddened," he told CityNews late Thursday. "I'm like a quarterback that's benched. Like football, a quarterback is essential and investigators are essential to fighting ... abuse against animals."
Trevor Smith remains under suspension.There's no word on how long the process may take to determine when - or if - he'll be able to go back to work. Hugh Coghill Chief inspector of the Toronto SPCA says "Mr. Smith has not been punished, he is simply not going to participate in law enforcement activities until we establish what happened and why at the incident in question. Then, we'll determine if any follow-up action is required on our part"
The dog's owner, Paul Soderholm, is charged with cruelty to an animal and is scheduled to appear in court next month. If found guilty, he could face a $2,000 fine and six months in jail.
Sources: http://www.citynews.ca
http://www.cbc.ca
http://www.thestar.com
We the undersigned urge the Toronto SPCA to reinstate Mr Smith immediately and commend him on his quick thinking that saved a dogs life.
An animal cruelty investigator for Toronto's Humane Society has had his licence suspended following an incident in which a man was left handcuffed to a car while his pet was taken away for medical treatment.
The captive man later claimed to police he was assaulted by members of the public while chained to his car.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday it would suspend Tre Smith's investigator's licence, pending an investigation of his actions.
It was on a sweltering July 31 afternoon when Smith rushed to save a Rottweiler named Cyrus, who had been sealed in a parked car that was roasting at temperatures nearing 70 C.
Cruelty investigator Tre Smith was sure the dog was near death and didn't have time to wait for the owners to return. So without hesitating, he broke open the window to reach the limp animal. "I could see through this window and there's a large breed Rottweiler, about 110 pounds, slumped over the back seat with his legs up and a blank stare forward, death stare we call it, foaming from the mouth and he was non-responsive. So I immediately smashed the window and opened the car doors and dragged the dog out and brought it onto the pavement."
When Cyrus's owner returned to his car, the owner was handcuffed to the vehicle and left alone while Cyrus was taken away for treatment.
Smith said "He (the suspect) was threatening and abusive and for my own safety,the safety of others around me and for the safety of Cyrus I needed to tend to Cyrus to save his life"
By the time police arrived, the captive man was bleeding, having been allegedly attacked by angry bystanders who witnessed the incident. "The police hadn't got here just yet but they were almost here, and I had to leave because the dog was non-responsive, had stopped breathing and I had to stimulate the dog just to bring him back," he recalled
Smith also has the backing of witness Andrew McGowan.
"He did his job 100%, and I was there for the whole thing," he said.
Smith remains perturbed by the turn his no-win decision has taken. "I'm shocked and stunned and deeply saddened," he told CityNews late Thursday. "I'm like a quarterback that's benched. Like football, a quarterback is essential and investigators are essential to fighting ... abuse against animals."
Trevor Smith remains under suspension.There's no word on how long the process may take to determine when - or if - he'll be able to go back to work. Hugh Coghill Chief inspector of the Toronto SPCA says "Mr. Smith has not been punished, he is simply not going to participate in law enforcement activities until we establish what happened and why at the incident in question. Then, we'll determine if any follow-up action is required on our part"
The dog's owner, Paul Soderholm, is charged with cruelty to an animal and is scheduled to appear in court next month. If found guilty, he could face a $2,000 fine and six months in jail.
Sources: http://www.citynews.ca
http://www.cbc.ca
http://www.thestar.com
We the undersigned urge the Toronto SPCA to reinstate Mr Smith immediately and commend him on his quick thinking that saved a dogs life.
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10:48 am PST, Feb 16,
Melissa Lalonde, Canada
I volunteer at the Toronto Humane Society and I strongly believe that what was done to this heroic man is terrible. REINSTATE HIM IMMEDIATELY!!!!! |
GREAT! THIS MAN IS AN HERO!!!
Keep up the fight!!
Give Tre Smith a medal! Finally someone did the right thing. You make me, as a Canadian, very proud! The Toronto Humane Society should back up their employee and fight for what is right. This is their mandate - now support your people.
While I'm not familar with all the laws or law enforcement procedures, I believe the officer acting in the best interest of the animal, something the dog owner failed to do. I don't know if the handcuffing procedure is by the book, but he did not injure the man. If charges are filed for his injuries, they should be against the people that beat him. The officer should be reinstated and put on active duty.
This man is a hero. There is no lower person than that which would harm a defenseless animal who depends on you for their very existence.
Cruelty to animals should punished as it is when you physically abuse your child. That is what you have when you take on the responisibility of a Pet, you have a child, and your pet should be treated as you would treat your own family.
i support you tre smith!
This man should be considered a hero and reinstated with full pay.
Good work, animals deserve better. Mistreatment of a defenceless animal should carry the same sentence as that of any human. The person who does this is a worse person than most of the criminals already locked up.
You did your job! Save the animals!!
When it comes to the lives of pets, I'm tired of seeing improper care of them.
Unbelievable. Someone who has the common sense to do what's right and he is suspended. How ridiculous. Reinstate this man immediately and stand up for what is right!
It is quite clear that the investigator did the right thing, as for the owner, he should be the one to be prosecuted.
Tre keep up the awsome work that you do, Never give up on the ones that can't defend for themselves.My heart goes out to the unselfish work that you do for these animals.I enjoy & look forward to your segments on citytv every Tuesday at 5'. You should look into getting your own show fo the Humane Society I know from the responses that you have been getting that it would be a hit(just a thought).Again KEEP UP the Awsome work.
The world is a much better place thanks to Tre Smith. I believe in Do Unto Others... whether it be people or animals. So I also believe the owner of the dog should be placed in a locked car, temperatures over what's healthy for a human and let him sit there for a bit. Of course, would not want to "injure" or "harm" him but make him understand just what he did. How do these people get to own animals? Owning a pet is a priviledge and a responsibility. We are the humans, they are the animals.
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9:27 am PST, Dec 10,
Kathy Wayne, Canada
i think what tre did was a very good thing.i dont think he should havbe been stopped from doing his job in the first place.and second of all i think we need more people like tre around.god i wish he would be in picton where i live.because they do nothjing here about animal cruely.i have reported people and nothing is done about it.WAY TO GO TRE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.i'm 1.00000000% behind you kathy |
It is extremely sad that anyone would ever consider allowing this previous dog owner to go within 50 feet on of Cyrus. Furthermore he should be jailed and mandated to attend phsycotherapy. What's next for this irresponsbile person. I am hoping that he never sets eyes on Cyrus or any other animal ever again.
For those of us that are not sure what SPCA stands for it's "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals" It is obvious that Trevor Smith took that to heart and rescued poor Cyrus when he was seconds away from death and than the SPCA goes and suspends him for doing the right thing. Mr. Hugh Coghill Chief inspector of the Toronto SPCA I think you should have been handcuffed right next to Cyrus' owner and gotten the sh*t kicked out of you too!!
He should be given a medal and a raise! Not a suspension.
Get Tre back to do his job, which he did during that time on his call for duty, & whatever he could to save this dogs LIFE!! I'd of done the same & commend him for his "Big Heart" for giving this dogs, Life Back, which was The Most Important Thing at that time!! Diana Nolan
We need more people like Trevor Smith!
I hope the OSPCA finnaly gets some back bone, and stands up for what it is around for, the animals. If they allow such an irresponsible person to have poor Cyrus back, that is a disgrace. If this happens then they should be shut down, because they are not protecting our animals. Please leave Cyrus where he is, in a loving foster home.
Tre Smith deserves a medal for saving this poor animal.
