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Attorneys/Judges
| Defense(s): | William Beach |
Images for this Case
Dog survives shotgun blasts to face
Ontario, ON (CA)Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 6, 2012
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: Simeon Smith
Upcoming Court Dates:
» Monday, Nov 5, 2012: plea hearing
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
A German Shepherd found on the side of the road had such massive injuries that it's a miracle he's still alive, says one of his rescuers.
"Half his face and neck was blown away ... he was missing over half of his face. I could fit my whole fist inside his neck," said Maureen Massicotte.
Massicotte is a bus driver and animal rescuer living in St. Charles, about one hour southeast of Sudbury. On Tuesday afternoon, she was contacted by bus dispatch after another bus driver, Ron Eveson, spotted the dog on the side of the road.
"I got there as quickly as I could and, in the meantime, our dispatch had a hold of 911 and the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) and they showed up on the site. There were other witnesses that are being interviewed by the OPP that heard the shot and did see something that we think might be of concern," Massicotte told The Star Wednesday evening.
The dog, who Massicotte and her daughter have named Buddy, was reportedly blasted twice in the face with a shotgun.
"I have veterinary training, and I assessed the situation and realized the dog, even though he had a massive wound, could be saved because it hadn't hit any major arteries or broken his jaw. It's a beautiful animal. He was worth saving."
Massicotte and her daughter took Buddy to Walden Animal Hospital in Lively, where he was in surgery for about an hour and a half. More than 50 pellets were removed from his body.
"He's doing wonderful. I talked to his vet tonight (Wednesday). We have hopeful expectations he should be coming home Saturday," said Massicotte, who has decided to adopt Buddy.
Whoever shot Buddy was likely standing in front of the dog when the trigger was pulled, and that Buddy was likely looking at him.
Buddy will undergo a second round of surgery today to remove four teeth shattered by the shots, Danyluk said. Then it's just a matter of letting the extensive and disfiguring wounds heal before being released, perhaps as early as Monday.
Danyluk said the hospital has been getting calls of concern from across North America about Buddy. However, the woman who found the dog and brought it to the hospital has already offered to cover the vet bills and adopt Buddy. Donations to cover the cost can be made directly to Walden Animal Hospital.
Anyone with information about Buddy is asked to contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722, ext. 327, or by email at [email protected].
Case UpdatesThe man charged in the March shooting of Buddy, the German shepherd-mix dog, will enter a plea of guilt in early November.
Simeon Smith, 32, who did not appear in person in provincial offences court in Greater Sudbury Monday, had a date of Nov. 5 set to enter his plea.
Lawyer William Beach appeared on Smith's behalf.
Smith is facing four charges of animal cruelty laid under the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
He is charged with causing an animal to be in distress, permitting an animal to be in distress, failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical attention, and failing to humanely kill an animal by a method that is humane and minimizes the pain and distress to the animal.
On March 6, Buddy was found at the side of Montee Brazeau Road in St. Charles with two shotgun wounds to the head.
Half his face and neck had been blown away.
After successfully undergoing surgery, in which 50 shotgun pellets were removed from his body, Buddy died of heart complications during a second surgery.
Smith faces a fine of up to $60,000, a lifetime ban on owning an animal and up to two years in jail.
Back on March 18, a three-kilometre walk in Buddy's memory (Buddy's Walk for Justice) drew more than 600 participants.
An online petition, Justice for Buddy the Hero Dog, has collected more than 11,880 signatures. A Facebook group -- Buddy the Hero Dog -- has 945 members.
The Walden Animal Hospital, where Buddy was treated, is planning to build a memorial in his honour.
Animal lover Barb Goldsmith of Whitefish, who protested alone outside the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday and who had protested for short periods several days last week, was upset when she learned the matter wasn't resolved.
"The postponed it again?" she asked. "I'm going to be back here in November."
Goldsmith had several signs with her with messages such as Stop Animal Abuse and Remember Buddy. One sign featured a photograph of Buddy after his first surgery. | Source: The Sudbury Star - Oct 1, 2012
Update posted on Oct 1, 2012 - 11:17PM |
Following much delay and court procedure, the case for the 32-year-old man accused of shooting Buddy the Hero Dog has been adjourned to June 4.
Simeon Smith was represented by his lawyer, William Beach, at his May 7 court date. He didn't appear.
The four charges include one count for causing the animal to be in distress, one count for permitting the animal to be in distress, one count for failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical attention, and one count for failing to humanely kill an animal by a method that is humane and minimizes the pain and distress to the animal.
A person charged under the Ontario SPCA Act could face a maximum fine of $60,000, up to two years in jail and a lifetime ban of owning any animals. | Source: northernlife.ca - May 7, 2012
Update posted on May 10, 2012 - 11:08AM |
On 6th March, 2012 at approximately 5:00 PM the OPP responded to a complaint of a German Sheppard dog being shot on Montee Brazeau Road in St. Charles. The dog sustained serious injuries to his face and was transported to the Walden Animal Hospital, where he received veterinary care. On March 7, 2012 the Ontario SPCA was contacted to participate in the investigation. The dog eventually succumbed to his injuries, on Friday 09th March, 2012.
A joint investigation by the Sudbury SPCA and the Noelville/Warren OPP Detachment was conducted and on 10th March 2012, the persons responsible in the shooting of "Buddy" attended the Warren OPP Detachment for interviews.
As a result of the investigation, a 32 year old man was charged with four counts of animal cruelty, under the Ontario SPCA Act.
The four charges include: one count for causing the animal to be in distress, one count for permitting the animal to be in distress, one count for failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical attention, and one count for failing to humanely kill an animal by a method that is humane and minimizes the pain and distress to the animal.
Information was received that there have been threats and malicious comments being said and written on FaceBook and other internet sites. Police would like to remind the public that any threats made are considered a criminal offense and will be dealt with accordingly.
The Ontario SPCA would like to remind pet owners that should you have any questions or concerns for the care of your animal, there are options available to address the situation. Please contact your local veterinarian or the Ontario SPCA and those options can be discussed with you. | Source: marketwire.com - Mar 13, 2012
Update posted on Mar 13, 2012 - 9:19PM |
Buddy, the German Shepherd that was shot twice in the face with a shotgun, has died.
"It is with sad and heavy hearts that we share the news that we lost Buddy today," the Walden Animal Hospital posted on its Facebook page.
"Very suddenly and unexpectedly he passed on. The team is absolutely devastated, as is his would-be family. We would like to express our gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love and concern for our hero. Buddy shone a light on the brightness of humanity for us and we will never forget him."
Buddy was found Tuesday afternoon lying on the side of a road in St. Charles with massive shotgun wounds to his face and neck.
The dog, assumed to be about four years old and obviously well cared for before being shot, was taken to Walden Animal Hospital in Lively, Ont., where he was in surgery for about an 90 minutes. More than 50 pellets were removed from his body.
Buddy was scheduled to undergo more surgery Friday, to remove four teeth that were shattered by the gunshots.
Dr. Rod Jouppi, a Walden Animal Hospital veterinarian, said Buddy died unexpectedly around 2 p.m. of heart complications.
What happened to Buddy remains a mystery, Alison Cross, a spokesperson for the OSPCA, said Thursday. The organization and the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the shooting.
There's no timetable for the investigation, but charges could be laid for an act of animal cruelty.
Anyone with information on Buddy is asked to contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722, ext. 327. | Source: torontosun.com - Mar 9, 2012
Update posted on Mar 9, 2012 - 5:32PM |
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