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Dog beaten to death with baseball
Sarnia, ON (CA)Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 16, 2011
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Layton Hartwick
The Sarnia man arrested after a dog was beaten to death with a baseball bat Thursday is not a monster, his partner says.
Nicole Georgiou-Ward said her boyfriend is a loving father who reacted quickly after his year-and-a-half-old daughter was bitten on the face by their neighbor's dog.
"He didn't kill the dog on purpose," she said, choking back tears. "(The dog) attacked my kid."
The 26-year-old man was outside the couple's Kathleen Avenue home playing with their children and the neighbor's children, said Georgiou-Ward, who was inside at the time.
The neighbor's five-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Teddy, was tied up nearby.
Georgiou-Ward said her partner ran inside with their toddler, Avy, in his arms, blood running from around her eye. He told her he'd "flipped out" and "put Teddy out of his misery," she said.
Sarnia Police responded to a flurry of 911 calls from residents who reported seeing a man first kick and then beat a dog with a baseball bat. The dog was on a chain, police said.
Georgiou-Ward said her family is neighbors and good friends with the owners of the dog. The two families were planning a trip together to the Toronto Zoo next week, she said.
"The dog is a part of our family. He never had any intention of doing it, ever."
Georgiou-Ward said her children are familiar with dogs and they have a Jack Russell terrier of their own. However, Teddy had nipped at them before, she said.
"He bit both of my children before but he never drew blood. It was just a growl to get them away from them, which most dogs do."
The toddler was treated at hospital and released shortly thereafter. No stitches were required, she said.
Georgiou-Ward said her partner just completed his first year at Lambton College and has dreams of becoming a lawyer.
"He's in school right now, he's trying to do something," she said. "He's trying to get us out of here."
Nicole King, an OSPCA agent at the Sarnia & District Humane Society, said pets don't have a voice and can't talk back.
Thursday's incident was highly unusual, she said.
"I'm at a loss for words about what happened yesterday, especially since it was in the middle of the afternoon, in front of other people and in front of children, on a busy street. I'm saddened and disheartened."
Layton Hartwick, 26, has been charged with injuring an animal, and was remanded in custody Friday for a bail hearing on Monday, June 20. References |
