Sask. Animal Protection Services urges people to report abuse in wake of alleged cat killing
CBC
WARNING: This story contains details of alleged animal abuse.
In the wake of a Regina man's arrest earlier this week for allegedly luring and killing a cat in June, Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan is urging people to speak out about any abuse they witness.
"Because we rely on members of the public to be reactive in our policing of the care of animals, if you see something, say something," said Don Ferguson, the animal protection agency's executive director.
"If we aren't made aware of these situations, we can't investigate them."
In addition to his agency, which is responsible for enforcement of Saskatchewan's Animal Protection Act, Ferguson noted people can report any animal abuse they might see to humane societies or local police services.
The reminder comes just days after Matthew James Drummond, 29, was charged with nine offences — including causing unnecessary suffering to animals — after a cat was found dead earlier this summer.
According to a news release from Regina police Wednesday, officers received a report on June 13 about a stolen grey-and-white cat, identified in court documents as "Spots."
His owner checked her home video surveillance system and saw an unknown man luring the cat, and taking him from her yard in the 2300 block of McAra Street, police said.
Further review of the owner's surveillance videos showed a man — who investigators believe to be the same person seen in the other video — attempting to lure Spots the day before as well.
Police said the cat was found dead the next day in a northwest Regina field, with injuries later determined to be severe and non-accidental.
Drummond is currently remanded, after making his first provincial court appearance on these charges Wednesday morning.
The matter was rescheduled for next Monday afternoon to allow him time to secure a lawyer.
Drummond's current charges include breaches of multiple probation orders. Two of those counts relate to a previous court order banning him from having animals in his possession.
That stems from an incident on March 3, 2020, when Regina police officers located the then-27-year-old in a vehicle with an injured cat and found another cat dead nearby.
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