Montreal, March 4, 2015 – Yesterday evening, at around 6 p.m., a severely injured dog was brought to the Montreal SPCA. The dog, named Cannelle by Montreal SPCA staff, was found agonizing in a cardboard box on Henri-Julien street, on the corner of Du Laos, in the Plateau. The Montreal SPCA veterinary team determined that Cannelle had suffered a severe traumatic head injury, likely caused by a heavy blow from an axe. Due to the severity of Cannelle’s injuries, she had to be humanely euthanized.

Cannelle was a Chow Chow/Labrador mix of approximately 9 years. She was medium-sized and reddish in colour.

The Montreal SPCA’s inspection department has opened a criminal investigation into this case and is seeking the public’s help in order to identify Cannelle and her former owners, as well as to apprehend the person responsible for this heinous act of cruelty. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact our inspection department at inspection@spca.com or (514) 735-2711 extension 2230. All tips are treated confidentially.

“The pain and suffering that Cannelle endured is heart wrenching. We are going to do everything in our power to achieve some form of justice for her, and we are counting on the public’s help to find the person responsible” said Sophie Gaillard, Lawyer and Campaigns Manager for the Montreal SPCA’s Animal Advocacy Department. “Animal cruelty is a serious criminal offence and the perpetrator of this act could face up to five years in prison.”

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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514-226-3932, or anitak@spca.com.

About the Montreal SPCA Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:

• protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
• represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
• raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.

For many years, the Montreal SPCA has been working hard with municipal, provincial and federal governments to improve animal protection laws. In 2014, our inspection service investigated 1,217 new complaints and conducted the inspection of 3,012 animals, all species combined. A total of 101 animals were seized as a result of these investigations and several criminal and penal charges were laid.

For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com