Killer of dozens of sled dogs gets probation
The man who, by his own count and admission, killed at least 70 sled dogs — some of which lingered in pain after he shot and slashed them — was sentenced to three years probation yesterday in British Columbia.
Robert Fawcett, 40, said the sled dog tour company he managed in Whistler ordered the cull, which came to light after Fawcett filed a workmen’s compensation claim stating that carrying out the orders had caused him post traumatic stress disorder.
As part of an investigation, 54 dogs were unearthed and examined, though estimates were that as many as 100 were involved.
Yesterday, Judge Steve Merrick ruled that Fawcett had the “best interests” of the dogs at heart when he culled the pack near Whistler after a slump in business following the 2010 Olympic Games, the Globe and Mail reports.
Fawcett was not charged with killing the animals — that’s, unfortunately, legal — but with “causing unnecessary pain and suffering” to nine of the animals, namely those that lingered after he wounded them, and, in some cases, were thrown into graves before they died.
Graphic testimony at Thursday’s hearings left some in tears, and Judge Merrick’s ruling was slammed by the British Columbia SPCA.
Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the BC-SPCA, said Fawcett “basically walked away,” and, through his injury claim, “he was paid taxpayer dollars in compensation for committing the crime.”
“We put forward strong evidence that animals suffered, and that this occurred over a few days,” Moriarty said. “When you look at other animal-cruelty cases in Canada … I think the sentence here is not reflective of what Canadians feel.”
The defense recommended no jail time for Fawcett, who they noted was carrying out orders when he began culling the herd at Howling Dog Tours, the owners of which had put an “absolute freeze” on spending.
In a statement, read in court, Fawcett described killing Susie, who was the mother of his family’s dog. He described what he called “execution-style” killings, in which he wrestled some of the dogs to the ground and stood on them with one foot to shoot them. He described one dog who survived the first bullet, and how he had to climb into the grave in which he had tossed the dog to finish the killing.
“I will never stop feeling guilty for the suffering that the dogs endured that day. I feel like part of me died with those dogs,” Fawcett’s defense lawyer, Greg Diamond, quoted his client as saying.
The defense supplied a list of 30 character references to the judge that described Fawcett’s dedication to the dogs.
The prosecution didn’t push for the maximum sentence — five years in prison — and noted Fawcett had no criminal record. Crown lawyers emphasized that he was charged in connection with the suffering of only nine of the dogs, not with the mass euthanization.
“Many dogs suffered from the reckless acts of Mr. Fawcett. However, it’s important to bear in mind that he has not been convicted of and is not being sentenced for euthanizing sled dogs generally,” said Crown lawyer Nicole Gregoire. “This is not a sentencing of the sled dog industry, or a discussion of the morality of the euthanization of sled dogs. The fact is that whether the court and the public like it or not, it is lawful to euthanize animals.”
The killings occurred in April, 2010. The bodies of the dogs were exhumed, after the ground thawed, in May, 2011. They were reburied at a memorial ceremony earlier this month.
(Photo: By Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)
Posted by jwoestendiek November 23rd, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, british columbia, buried, canada, charges, claim, company, compensation, cull, dogs, euthanasia, exhumed, howling dog, investigation, pain, pets, post traumatic stress disorder, probation, robert fawcett, sentence, shot, slashed, sled dogs, spca, suffering, three years, touring, tours, whistler, workers, workmens
Comments
Comment from robert
Time November 23, 2012 at 10:56 am
Unbelievable! He could have stood up to his bosses and said no or he could have reported what they were going to do ahead of time. He took a very active role in this slaughter, regardless of how much he claims it bothered him. No justice what so ever.
Comment from Justice for Captain
Time November 23, 2012 at 2:57 pm
If anyone in Canada would like to help us with a petition to have Canada and BC’s animal cruelty laws and penalties strengthened and enforced, a kind MP, Mr. Alex Atamanenko, is taking our petition to the House of Commons in Ottawa. Please consider downloading a petition form from the link below, getting 25 signatures, and sending the form to Mr. Atamanenko in Ottawa, no postage required. Thanks!!
https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForCaptainPetition/app_112190812172796
Comment from Julie
Time November 23, 2012 at 7:39 pm
This judge must be on drugs. This person just claims PTSD and the Court feels sorry for him. This is so disgusting that this man used this as his defense to walk away free from this animal cruelty crime he committed. He did not have the “best interests” of the dogs in mind.This was an execution style killing, the dogs were not humanely euthanized. They suffered a long brutal death. This is so cold, I hope this man freezes to death one day and feels what it is like to die a long slow death.
Comment from Lifeforce
Time November 24, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Snow Sledding NOT Dog Sledding! Boycott! Petition
Lifeforce’s new petition is to stop the inhumane tourism and racing sled dog industry. We are urging outdoor adventure companies to replace dogs with snow mobiles/ATVs. The recent court decision shows that dogs are not and will not be protected. In this day and age we must use modern technology NOT exploited sentient dogs.
Please sign to stop the sled dog abuses.
Thank you,
Peter Hamilton
Lifeforce Founding Director
(604)649-5258
lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
http://www.lifeforcefoundation.org
Comment from Miss Jan
Time November 24, 2012 at 8:28 pm
I read and researched extensively about this case including material not generally available outside the legal profession. Because of what I learned, sadly I am not surprised at this ruling because the owner of the company was the son of one of the wealthiest men in Canada and the family financial holdings are vast – several destination ski resorts (including Vail, and at the time of the slaughter the company was moving its headquarters to the US – Denver, specifically). There are other issues at play including the background of the family. But make no mistake – financial interests likely played a huge role in first hushing up the problem, then dragging it out for many months with little press follow-up, followed by minimal punishment. “He was just following orders”? If that’s so then perhaps he could have spared his children’s dog. He did not and that was one of the dogs that suffered so terribly, losing an eye when shot and he finished her off by repeatedly stabbing her – by his own admission.
No mercy should have been shown to this monster and HUGE fines and possibly jail time should have been levied on the man who gave the kill order – a man whose vast family fortune insulates him from any accountability for such a horrific crime.
Comment from Miss Jan
Time November 24, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Meant to add this before posting: as reported in the local newspaper, The Globe and Mail, on November 22, the owner of the tour company that the killer blamed for ordering him to carry out the executions, didn’t even have to submit to inquiry by the authorities who in this case were the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”). Here is the newspaper quote: “The Crown said Joey Houssian, the owner of Outdoor Adventures Whistler, declined to be interviewed by RCMP about the killings.”
A crime such as this with the killer having the gall to claim “disability” after doing what he did, and the killer’s employer who supposedly ordered the killing and therefore would be or SHOULD be a Crown witness “declined” to be interviewed??? ‘Ats what I’m talkin’ about.
Comment from Judith Pannebaker
Time November 25, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Oh, great, the parent company this jerk worked for is moving to DENVER – a bastion for fairness to dogs and dog breeds in the United States!
Comment from Fran
Time November 26, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Yeah – he looks real remorseful and “suffering” from PTSD in this photo…what a shame. I hope Denver doesn’t welcome this company at all…
Comment from Rox
Time November 26, 2012 at 1:32 pm
In Canada apparently just like in the USA – money talks, and criminals walk. I count the owner of the sled dog touring company (the owner’s family OWNS Whistler and other ski resorts and is fabulously rich, rich beyond avarice) as equally guilty. The killer and his death-demanding boss have not been adequately punished. I tend to be in favor of eye for an eye type punishment – for both of them.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time November 30, 2012 at 8:28 am
Obviously, the thoughts and feelings of those of us who care about the welfare of dogs in our society are like so many cries in the wilderness. And we consider ourselves to have an advanced, progressive society. Sad commentary indeed. Why is it that we feel the need to exploit and murder such innocent and inoffensive creatures, and especially in the quest for the almighty dollar!? Like this owner hasn’t already got more money than he’ll ever need. I hope the Hindus are right about reincarnation and karma, because if they are these murdering scum will be reborn as the lowest of the low.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time November 23, 2012 at 9:17 am
“The defense recommended no jail time for Fawcett, who they noted was carrying out orders…” Gee, where have we heard that before??
I have no doubt that this man feels bad about what he did, AS HE SHOULD. And, I’m sorry but standing on a dog while shooting it, or slitting it’s throat is NOT “Euthanasia”, it’s cruel and it’s murder!
Once again the legal system refuses to protect helpless animals, no surprises here.