Merritt-area man sentenced for dragging dog behind truck

April 1, 2011. For immediate release.

A Merritt-area man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to tying his golden Lab cross dog to his truck and dragging her behind the vehicle. Bobby Elliott was charged with animal cruelty under both the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code following a BC SPCA investigation last summer.

“On June 17, a local rescue group, Angel’s Animal Rescue, responded to a call about an injured dog,” said Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the BC SPCA.  “When one of their representatives arrived at the address they found a seriously injured golden Lab cross.”  The female dog, named April Rain, had been tied to her owner’s truck as he drove in order to provide her with exercise.  “The poor dog was dragged behind the vehicle, sustaining a number of painful injuries, including deep lacerations and bruising all over her body,” said Moriarty. Following the incident Elliott tethered April in his carport and did not seek veterinary treatment for her, despite her extensive injuries.

“It is heartbreaking to think of the pain that April was in.  It is inconceivable that anyone could consider this an appropriate method of exercising a pet or would not take steps to alleviate her suffering,” said Moriarty.  “Thankfully Angel’s Animal Rescue convinced Elliott to surrender the dog so that she could get immediate veterinary treatment and the RCMP and the BC SPCA worked together to present a file to Crown counsel asking for cruelty charges.

Elliott was given a 90-day conditional sentence, with the first 30 days on house arrest, was ordered to pay $2,100 in restitution to Angel’s Animal Rescue and is banned from owning animals for five years. April Rain has fully recovered and since been adopted into a loving family through Angel’s Animal Rescue.

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Photo caption: April Rain, a golden Labrador mix, sustained horrific injuries after being dragged behind a vehicle in Merritt last June. Her former owner, Bobby Elliot has pled guilty to animal cruelty charges.

For more information:

Marcie Moriarty, general manager, cruelty investigations, 604-647-1318, 604-258-8642;

Lorie Chortyk, general manager, community relations, BC SPCA, 604-647-1316.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.