Saanich woman banned from owning animals for three years

January 7, 2010. For immediate release.

A North Saanich woman who allowed her dog to suffer with a broken jaw, pneumonia and a collapsed lung has been banned from owning animals for three years.

Iris Crystal Jones was handed the ban after pleading guilty to animal cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

"This was a horrific case of neglect," said BC SPCA special provincial constable Erika Paul, "and unfortunately it took a little dog paying the ultimate price to ensure no other animals will be neglected for the next three years."

Paul says the case of Sherbert, a young female adult pit bull owned by Jones, was among the more disturbing she's encountered in her 14-year career. Sherbert was declined veterinary care after sustaining blunt force trauma to her jaw and later developed other complications.

"She was just such a sweet little dog whose every breath was a struggle because of the collapsed lung," says Paul. "She would pant and heave while her broken jaw dangled and swayed."

Sherbert was seized by the SPCA in February 2009. Coughing and wheezing, Sherbert was discovered crammed in a kennel with another large pit bull.

Paul immediately took Sherbert to a veterinarian, where the gentle dog spent a week fighting for her life. The veterinarian tapped Sherbert's chest and removed more than four litres of air. She was also given antibiotics, fluids, pain medication and several additional chest taps but she continued to decline, and was eventually euthanized to relieve her suffering.

 "This is a tragedy that could have been prevented," said Paul.

The BC SPCA conducts close to 4,800 cruelty investigations a year and is reliant on donations from the public to continue its work. To report animal cruelty, find out more about the BC SPCA or pledge your support, visit spca.bc.ca.

Caption: Sherbert, who sustained a broken jaw, collapsed lung and pneumonia, was severely neglected by her guardian, who later pleaded guilty to animal cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and was banned from owning animals for three years.

For more information:

Erika Paul, special provincial constable, BC SPCA 250-388-7722

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.