Two Langford area residents, Tyler Miskow and Andrea Mills, have been charged with animal cruelty. The pair is being charged with two counts of neglecting and failure to provide adequate care for an animal under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Miscow and Mills’ male cat, Romeo, was taken to the BC SPCA Victoria Branch in January of this year after friends of the couple persuaded the two to turn Romeo over to them. The young cat had extensive injuries, including numerous fractures throughout his body, “consistent with high impact injury”, according to a veterinarian who examined the animal. One leg was so badly injured it had to be amputated.

Romeo had been an indoor cat only. Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt military police initially investigated the case, after a complaint was filed with them alleging that Miskow was physically abusive to the animal. Neither Miscow nor Mills sought medical attention for Romeo, who suffered for many days with his injuries, according to numerous witnesses, and corroborated by the veterinarian’s findings, before he was turned in to the
BC SPCA.

“It’s very disturbing that someone could treat a helpless animal with such violence,” says BC SPCA Animal Protection Officer Erika Paul. “It’s obvious the animal had suffered for some time. It’s fortunate that someone had enough compassion to take him to the BC SPCA so he could get immediate treatment for his injuries.” Romeo has since been adopted. Miscow and Mills will make their first court appearance June 30 at Western Communities Courthouse.

The BC SPCA conducts nearly 7,000 cruelty investigations a year and is reliant on donations from the public to continue its work. Your gift can help rescue and protect animals in need and bring abusers to justice. Please donate today.

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.