Couple’s beloved dog stabbed
A 56-year-old Dartmouth man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly stabbed a dog Saturday afternoon in Dartmouth.
According to police, the attack took place while a couple were walking their leashed St. Bernard on a trail from Princess Margaret Boulevard toward Burnside Park at 3:10 p.m.
The couple who own the dog, John and Penny Williams, said things turned bad soon after they started to head back home on one of their daily walks with Mr. Beazley.
Their six-year-old, purebred, doughnut-loving dog weighs 180 pounds.
"We saw this dog charging towards us," Mr. Williams said from his home Monday.
The dog, a yellow Labrador retriever, ran straight to Mr. Beazley and jumped on him in an attack, he said. Mr. Williams was trying to pull away the Labrador retriever when a man who also lives in their Princess Margaret Boulevard neighbourhood showed up.
According to Mr. Williams, the man said, "Get your . . . dog off my dog or I’ll kill it," and then took out a hunting knife and started to stab Mr. Beazley.
Ms. Williams started pulling at the man’s jacket to make him stop and Mr. Williams went a step further.
"I actually grabbed his wrist that had the knife in it to keep him from stabbing Beazley more," he said.
At one point, the man allegedly threatened the couple, but the dogs were soon separated. Mr. Williams found it strange that the man just walked away with the Labrador retriever once they were separated.
They contacted police and Ms. Williams hoisted Mr. Beazley into a car and took him to the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic in Dartmouth.
Halifax Regional Police’s quick response unit in East division arrested the suspect with the dog at 3:21 p.m.
He has since been released but will appear in Dartmouth provincial court at a later date to face charges of cruelty to animals, possession of a weapon and uttering threats. Police did not release his name.
Officers took the yellow Labrador retriever back to the man’s house afterward, something that concerns neighbours.
Shaune MacKinlay, a spokeswoman for Halifax Regional Municipality, said animal control has been notified about the matter.
"They need time to pursue it," she said. "This is first and foremost a police investigation involving the owner.
"Any move to seize a dog, any dog, requires a warrant. That’s not been done yet in this case and it would be premature to say what’s going to happen."
Mr. Williams said he has been losing sleep and is angry about the attack. He said his landlord has been contacted about the alleged attacker, but Mr. Williams did not want to provide details about that situation.
Another neighbour, Janice McKenzie, said people consider Mr. Beazley "the neighbourhood dog."
She is concerned that the suspect lives in the neighbourhood and has the Labrador retriever with him.
She said her five-year-old son was on the verge of tears after hearing about the attack. She bought a sympathy card for well-wishers to sign and has collected some money to offset the veterinary bills the Williamses will have to pay.
As for Mr. Beazley, he suffered three stab wounds to his neck and side and spent a night in a veterinary hospital.
On Monday, he was sprawled out on the floor of the couple’s apartment. He had some gauze around his upper shoulders and looked a little sheepish but seemed to appreciate a few pats to the head.
"He’s better today," Ms. Williams said Monday. "Yesterday, he couldn’t stand up or lift his head."
The Williamses don’t think Mr. Beazley will become afraid of people and said they can afford their veterinary bills.
They said their daily walks are just one of their rituals with Mr. Beazley.
Another is their nightly drive to get him a treat.
"Every night, he goes for a ride in the car and has two Tim Hortons doughnuts for a treat," Ms. Williams said.
If they don’t go, Mr. Beazley makes such a fuss no one gets any sleep that night, she said.
We wish Mr. Beazley a speedy recovery, aided by a few extra doughnuts.
Meanwhile, one wonders how long it really takes to get a warrant?
In the case of Brindi... we heard it took four days flat to get both warrant and euthanization order together. And her owner was not charged with anything at all. No knife stabs, no assault, no nothing.
Perhaps it's easy when you know how to skip the investigation part.
