IF YOUR NEIGHBOR SNAPS, ARE YOUR ANIMALS SAFE?

System failed dog-killing suspect

By Cassidy Olivier - Kamloops This Week - December 16, 2007

So says father of Westsyde man who allegedly slit puppy’s throat

The father of a 30-year-old Westsyde man under investigation in connection to a dog slaying said the situation could have been avoided had the system been working properly.

Dale Folk told KTW Friday both he and his son had lodged numerous complaints with the city’s bylaw services regarding the dog’s alleged incessant barking and had even approached their neighbours about doing something about it.

However, Folk said, nothing was ever done and his son, who suffers from a mental disorder and can’t cope with repeat noises, finally snapped.

“The system had failed and the neighbours have failed,” an audibly distraught Folk told KTW.

“It is not all one-sided, I can tell you that.”

Police were called to the 1500-block of Westmount Drive late Monday after receiving a 911 call from the distraught owners of Bruno, an eight-month old Catahoula Leopard, reporting their dog had had its throat slit.

Sixteen-year-old Laura Mayer told KTW that she found Bruno dead in his doghouse when she returned home from school, his blood staining the snow.

She called her mother, who in turn called police.

Laura’s father, Don Mayer, said Folk came over while police were still on the scene and admitted his son was the suspect, claiming he had just returned from the hospital, where his son received treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.

Mayer said Folk apologized, then walked away.

“He [Bruno], probably came to the gate wagging his tail,” said Mayer.

“He was a friendly dog.”

While noting Bruno did, at times, bark, Mayer said it was far from incessant. At night, he said, the dog was always brought inside the house.

However, such statements were refuted Friday by Folk, who claimed the dog barked all the time. He said bylaw officers told him there was nothing they could do about it.

Calls to the city’s bylaw services office were not returned by KTW press deadline.

“They wouldn’t bring the dog in,” said Folk of his neighbours.

“There was nothing done about it.”

In the meantime, Folk said he and his family will await the outcome of the investigation that they expect to end up in court.

He said everyone in the house, including his son, is “worried sick” over the incident, which he described as a “terrible thing.”

He said his son is “a really good guy.”

The RCMP said Friday it will be up to the Crown to determine if charges will be laid in connection to the slaying.

As of Friday afternoon, the Crown had not yet received from police a package of recommended charges that could include counts under both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

A constable with the SPCA said the fallout could amount to a $2,000 fine and six months in jail.

 DID THE SYSTEM FAIL OR HAS MEDIA ONLY PRINTED ONE SIDE? CITY BYLAWS HAS NOT YET COMMENTED BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. HOWEVER, WE WERE TOLD TODAY(DEC 22 07) THAT THEY "RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS" OF THIS BARKING DOG AND "BOTH COMPLAINTS" WERE HANDLED WITH THE OWNERS OF THE DOG.

REGARDLESS, WE WANT JUSTICE FOR THIS DOG WHO BRUTALLY LOST ITS INNOCENT LIFE.

WE WANT THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE AND FINES. WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, YOU WILL PAY FOR "LOOSING IT" ON AN ANIMAL. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS VIOLENT ACT AND A NEW PRESIDENCE MUST BE SET. WE WHO SIGN THIS PETITION ASK THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY BE GIVEN TO THE KILLER.  THERE ARE LAWS FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND THE PUBLIC WANTS THEM  ENFORCED.