A Chatham woman has been convicted of animal cruelty for failing to provide veterinary attention for a nine-week-old puppy that jumped from a moving car last July.
20-year-old Brittany Billard, pleaded guilty to the charge in court on May 31st, and has been banned from owning a pet for three years, fined $650, and ordered to pay $1,880 in restitution towards the care of the puppy.
The investigation began on July 18th when the owner told an OSPCA officer she had taken the pup to the vet immediately after the incident, but hadn’t gone back for any follow-up treatment because she couldn’t afford it.
The animal was seized and taken to the vet, where its leg was amputated.
“There is no excuse when it comes to failing to care for your animals. If you are having difficulty providing care for your animals, contact the Ontario SPCA to discuss your options,” says Carol Vanderheide, Regional Inspector, Ontario SPCA. “We would also like to remind pet owners to confine their animals to the back seat, either in a carrier or pet seat belt, when travelling.”
The puppy has since been adopted into a new home.