Duck beaten to death with stick Winnipeg, MB (CA) Incident Date: Sunday, Sep 30, 2007 Disposition: Alleged Alleged: 15 year old male

Case ID: 12418 Classification: Beating Animal: bird (wildlife) View more cases in MB (CA) Login to Watch this Case

A troubled 15-year-old boy is accused of going on a violent rampage that included beating a fluffy duckling to death with a stick in a creek behind his Winnipeg group home.

The alleged attack horrified staff and residents at the Knowles Centre, who had been caring for the mother mallard and her newborn babies since the spring.

Police recently charged the teen with several offences, including cruelty to animals causing death. He made a brief court appearance Wednesday and has adjourned his case until Nov. 1.

"This is a very unusual incident. (The residents) had become like mothers and fathers to these ducks. The same ones come back every year and we watch them grow up," Rick Skelton, director of the Knowles Centre, said.

The teens who live at Knowles had been taking great care of the ducks, including feeding them and ensuring their nest wasn't disturbed, while doing yardwork and playing down near the creek.

Skelton said it's a great way for kids who have behavioural problems to show a softer side and learn about nature and caring for others.

He said residents are not allowed to have pets in the facility for fear they could become innocent victims of disputes and outbursts.

"It's so easy to take it out on animals. We had an incident here maybe 25 years ago where a boy had a pet rabbit, it was like his only friend, and some other residents were jealous and killed the rabbit," said Skelton.

Vicki Burns, executive director of the Winnipeg Humane Society, said she was "deeply saddened" to hear of the duckling's death.

She said the incident should set off alarm bells for those who work in social services and have contact with the accused teen.

"This is not normal behaviour. And if there isn't effective therapy, there's a very high likelihood a person would continue hurting others," she said.

"There's something very wrong with someone who can inflict pain on an innocent human being or an animal. It usually relates to the individual themselves suffering some kind of abuse against them."

The accused was first charged last winter with trying to set fire to a group home in Thompson by lighting papers stuffed in a garbage pail. There was minimal damage.

He was also accused of throwing weights through a window, leading to a mischief charge.
The teen ended up in Knowles earlier this year and allegedly continued to give staff headaches.

He is accused of punching a hole through a wall in June and then vandalizing his room with a bingo dabber and shoe polish weeks later.

The teen was apparently sent outside to "cool off" when he allegedly set his sights on the ducks swimming in Bunn's Creek behind the facility.

In total, he is now facing four counts of mischief and an arson charge in addition to the animal cruelty offence.

Animal cruelty laws have come under fire in Canada recently following several high-profile incidents. Some people are disgusted that pets are simply treated as property in the eyes of the law and offenders are only eligible for short jail terms.

Burns said there are countless examples of prolific criminals who have admitted to abusing animals when they were younger -- a sign of how important it is to take the issue seriously.

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References

Winnipeg Free Press - Oct 11, 2007

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