Raccoon drowned in cage
Toronto, ON (CA)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Michael Opheim
The entire scene was caught on video on Feb 28 morning by a Global News remote camera stationed at the water's edge in an entertainment complex located in the east end of the city. The camera operator witnessed a man submerging the raccoon, still caged in a catch-and-release trap, for several minutes. Using a cable attached to the cage, the man lowered the trap into deep water beside a dock breakwall. The video footage then shows the man dumping the apparently dead body into the lake and hurrying from the scene.
Global News contacted the Toronto Humane Society cruelty investigations unit with the video. Lead investigator Tre Smith reviewed the footage and recognized the area as a section of a popular nightclub and concert venue known as The Docks, located off Cherry St. Smith then moved the investigation to the scene.
Staff at The Docks immediately recognized the man in the video as an employee of an adjacent business. Once questioned, the man revealed that he believed the raccoon had hurt itself while trapped in the normally humane cage, and that he drowned the animal to put out of its misery.
Under the OSPCA Act, the THS has police powers to lay charges in relations to animal cruelty and animal welfare issues. The THS is currently preparing charges of animal cruelty against Michael Opheim, 29 of Caledon.
For further information: Lee Oliver, Senior Communicator, Toronto Humane Society, (416) 392-2273, ext 2149, Cell: 416-984-3097; Tre Smith, Cruelty Investigations, Toronto Humane Society, (416) 392-2273, ext 2141 References |
