Justice following his neuter surgery. (Photo courtesy Windsor/Essex County Humane Society)Justice following his neuter surgery. (Photo courtesy Windsor/Essex County Humane Society)
Chatham

Dog Abuser Jail Sentence 'Surprising'

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society is still pushing to get animal cruelty laws updated in Canada despite a "strong" two-year sentence for a Windsor dog abuser.

"It's a difficult question because when people see what Justice went through they think that two years is inadequate and you certainly could make an argument that the maximum under the criminal code should be higher," says Executive Director Melanie Coulter.

Michael Earl Hill was also sentenced to probation for three years and is banned from owning an animal for 25 years. The maximum sentence in this case would have been five years.

Coulter admits she was surprised by the judge's ruling because in many animal cruelty cases she's seen the penalties are much less severe.

"Even in cases where there was violence, often times some of the sentences have been only a few months -- less than six months," she says. "This was a strong sentence and it was something we were very happy to see."

The criminal code is dated and "weak," especially when it comes to animal cruelty laws, Coulter says.

"The wording was written back when we had horses and buggies and animals were definitely 100% considered property by most people," she says.

"Times have really changes. So there is a lot of room for improvement in the criminal code."

Justice still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, officials say. He has one surgery left with a dental specialist. Once that's complete he can start his heartworm treatment.

The humane society says he won't be placed up for adoption until summer, at the earliest.

Back in December a man walking his two dogs discovered Justice bound by the legs and snout with electrical tape. Officials say he likely would have died within hours if it he wasn't found.

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