The Vancouver Island owner of a large breed dog beaten so badly with a baseball bat it suffered neurological damage has been found guilty of animal abuse, and the SPCA hopes he’ll serve jail time.
Colwood resident Joseph White was convicted on two criminal code charges Friday in connection with a horrific attack on his dog Bryn.
The pitbull-Mastiff-mix suffered brain damage, broken teeth, blunt force trauma to her torso and fractures to her front legs after the April 2014 assault.
White surrendered the rescue dog to the SPCA for care, but not for more than a day afterwards. It took the dog two weeks to stand on her own.
The Victoria SPCA appealed to the public to help cover the $4,500 needed to treat Bryn, who spent nine months in foster care while she recovered from the traumatic injuries.
Senior animal protection officer Erika Paul said the SPCA is “elated” that the dog owner was found guilty on both charges.
In court, White testified that Bryn had attacked him, and he was forced to use the baseball bat to defend himself.
But that story didn’t sit well with the Victoria SPCA, where Bryn lived before being adopted out and was a shelter staff favourite.
“We knew Bryn. She had temperament testing done when she was in shelter and there was never any aggression, no misbehaving. She was just a very great, sweet family dog,” Paul told CTV Vancouver.
The Victoria judge agreed, ruling that there was no “justifiable reason” for the attack.
White was released on bail pending his sentencing later this week, and must not own any animal, or live where animals are present.
He may not contact Sandee Johnston, his co-accused, who plead guilty to a lesser charge earlier this year. The SPCA is hoping the judge will sentence White to jail time, the maximum allowed under the law.
The foster family caring for Bryn during rehabilitation has adopted her permanently.
“It’s been a long road but she won their hearts,” Paul said. “She’s a good dog.”
The BC SPCA investigates thousands of reports of animal cruelty each year.
