OSPCA suspends licence of Toronto animal cruelty officer
No comment from me...wonder what else he could have done? ;)
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/09082007/...y-officer.html
OSPCA suspends licence of Toronto animal cruelty officer
2 hours, 19 minutes ago
TORONTO (CBC) - 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 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. Smith smashed the car window to retrieve Cyrus, CBC was told, and with the help of bystanders began rehydrating and cooling down the animal.
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. It was during that time, the owner alleged, that the angry mob already gathered at the scene began beating him.
Police arrived later to find the man bleeding and still chained to the vehicle.
Smith said at the time that he shackled the pet owner because he wanted to ensure he would not be able to dodge possible animal cruelty charges. At the same time, Smith added, he also needing to urgently tend to Cyrus.
It was not clear how long Smith's suspension would remain in effect, as it not yet known how long the OSCPA's review will last.
Cyrus is reportedly recovering well.
