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Case ID: 7230
Classification: Beating, Burning - Caustic Substance
Animal: cat
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Case #7230 Rating: 3.6 out of 5



Cat beaten, burned with hot water
Calgary, AB (CA)

Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 31, 2005

Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Duston Wicker

Case Updates: 7 update(s) available

A one-year-old cat is recovering from alleged abuse at the hands of his owner that included being scalded with hot water.

Tiger, a domestic short-hair orange tabby, was brought to the Calgary Humane Society suffering from a split lip, a broken tail, eye trauma and first-degree burns to the ears, legs and paws.

Veterinarians haven't yet determined if Tiger has suffered any brain damage but do have concerns because he was brought in with blood in his pupil, said Calgary Humane Society spokesman Cheryl Wallach.

"We're cautiously optimistic - he is exhibiting normal social behaviour," Wallach said. "He's a pretty loving cat."

Witnesses to abuse in the home had notified the humane society of Tiger's plight. Tiger was sent on Feb 7 to foster care to continue his recovery.

But vets believe they will have to amputate his tail.

Duston Wicker is to make a provincial court appearance March 6, charged with deliberately causing harm to an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta.

If found guilty, the penalty is lifetime prohibition from owning an animal and a maximum fine of $20,000.


Case Updates

A Calgary man who beat and burned his own cat so badly it had to be put down will spend time in jail, but only on the weekends.

Dustin Wicker admitted to beating "Tiger" and burning his paws in January of last year.

Vets tried to save the tabby, but it had to put him down during surgery.

Wicker pleaded guilty to animal abuse saying he has a mental illness and took his anger out on his cat.

On Monday he was sentenced to three months in jail, which will be served on weekends.

Wicker is also banned from owning or caring for an animal for two years though he could have faced a lifetime ban.
Source: CTV News - May 14, 2007
Update posted on Jun 3, 2007 - 3:31PM 
A Calgary man who scalded his cat so badly it had to be put down will have to wait a few weeks before hearing his fate.

When asked if he had any final thoughts before sentencing, Duston Wicker told the court he "never wants the chance to do it again."

Wicker says he's in counselling and on medication for bi-polar disorder.

Special Constable Joan Treich with the Calgary Humane Society says she's pleased both sides are seeking jail time.

"Often in our cases we do not receive sentences that include incarceration, so that is encouraging."

Wicker pleaded guilty to severly injuring his one-year-old cat 'Tigger' in January 2006.

He'll be sentenced May 14.
Source: 77AM - April 5, 2007
Update posted on Apr 6, 2007 - 12:22PM 
Duston Wicker, who recently admitted to torturing his pet cat, is now disputing evidence brought against him in court.

Wicker earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty, for which he was set to be sentenced in provincial court yesterday.

But sentencing has been delayed after Wicker disagreed with some of the facts in the pre-sentence report, said Crown prosecutor Gordon Haight.

"There's a dispute over facts that he pled guilty to," Haight said outside court.

Wicker was charged after he abused his cat so badly it had to be euthanized by Calgary Humane Society staff.

Wicker will return to court tomorrow to set a date for a hearing of the evidence.
Source: CNES - Jan 25, 2007
Update posted on Jan 26, 2007 - 9:07AM 
Cat torturer Duston Wicker won't have to cool his heels behind bars while court-ordered reports are prepared for his sentencing hearing, a judge ruled on Friday.

Provincial court Judge Gerry Meagher had considered ordering Wicker into custody, but decided not to after learning why the city man failed to appear to have the reports prepared.

Defence counsel Tim Foster explained Wicker split up with his fiancee, lost one job and had to move into the Drop-In Centre following his last court appearance.

Foster said Wicker told probation officials he could be reached at the homeless shelter, but no one contacted him after he split up with his girlfriend at the end of July.

"His life basically has gone through an upheaval, he lost his residence and is living at the Drop-In Centre," Foster said.

A pre-sentence report by probation and a psychological assessment were ordered July 14 after Wicker, 30, pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty.

Wicker was charged after he abused his pet cat so badly it had to be euthanized by Calgary Humane Society staff.


Tiger, an orange tabby, was taken into the Humane Society's animal shelter in early February, with a broken tail, head trauma and first-degree burns to his legs, paws and ears.

The animal struggled for survival for almost a month before shelter staff realized he would not heal and had to euthanize Tiger on Feb. 27.

Crown prosecutor Inayat Jetha suggested Wicker should be detained to ensure the reports are prepared before the case returns to court for sentencing submissions.

But Meagher decided to give Wicker one more chance.

"You'll get the benefit of the doubt this time," the judge said.

"This is your last chance."

A new date for sentencing will be set next Wednesday.
Source: Calgary Sun - Nov 3, 2006
Update posted on Nov 3, 2006 - 8:59PM 
The man charged with torturing a cat to death is tired of waiting for the legal system, he said on Thursday after his case was again postponed.

Duston Wicker appeared in provincial court to answer to one count of permitting distress to an animal and one count of deliberately causing harm to an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta, but was disappointed to hear he's no further along than when he was first charged.

"I want it over with, I've wanted it since March," he said.

"This is a waste of everybody's time and money and I just want it done and over with."

Wicker was charged after the Calgary Humane Society seized a cat that had been abused so severely, the animal was left fighting for its life.

Tiger, a one-year-old orange tabby, was taken into the shelter in early February with a broken tail, head trauma and first-degree burns to his legs, paws and ears.

Tiger's tail had to be amputated and although the feline fought for a month to recover, shelter staff eventually realized he would not heal and were forced to put the animal down.

Calgary Humane Society spokeswoman Cheryl Wallach described the incident as the worst case of animal abuse the society has seen in recent years.

If found guilty, the maximum penalty is a lifetime prohibition from owning an animal and a fine of $20,000.

Wicker is scheduled to re-appear in provincial court on July 14.
Source: The Calgary Sun - June 9, 2006
Update posted on Jun 13, 2006 - 11:58AM 
An arrest warrant has been issued for an accused animal abuser who skipped court when facing charges of harming a cat that had to be put down.

Duston Wicker failed to appear for his provincial court appointment March 20, 2006, forcing Judge Ian Kirkpatrick to order the arrest of the absentee Calgarian.

Tiger, a one-year-old orange male tabby, fought for his life for almost a month after being rescued from his owner, Wicker, in February, 2006. But the Calgary Humane Society euthanized the abused cat in March 2006 when veterinarians determined it wouldn't be able to recover from its injuries, said Calgary Humane Society spokeswoman Cheryl Wallach. Tiger suffered from a broken tail, eye trauma and first-degree burns to the ears, legs and paws. Although Wallach said the humane society hoped the cat could recover after having its tail amputated, the scalding to its body proved to be overly traumatic. "The burns to his legs were so severe that tendons were severed and muscles withered, and he lost all his toes," Wallach said after Tiger had to be put down. "We've seen scalded cats before, but none to that degree."

Wicker is charged with two counts -- permitting distress to an animal and deliberately causing harm to an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta. If found guilty, the penalty is lifetime prohibition from owning an animal and a maximum fine of $20,000.
Source: CalSun News - March 21, 2006
Update posted on Mar 23, 2006 - 4:40PM 
The injuries a cat rescued by the Calgary Humane Society allegedly suffered at the hands of his owner were so severe, he had to be put down, society staff said yesterday.

Tiger, a one-year-old orange male tabby, fought for his life for almost a month but his struggle ended tragically this week when staff realized the animal wouldn't be able to recover from its injuries, the society said yesterday.

Tiger was suffering from a broken tail, eye trauma and first-degree burns to the ears, legs and paws, when he was rescued by the humane society in early February.

Although society staff was cautiously optimistic Tiger, who had his tail amputated last week, would pull through, his burns proved to be too traumatic, said CHS spokeswoman Cheryl Wallach.

"The burns to his legs were so severe that tendons were severed and muscles withered and he lost all his toes," she said. "We've seen scalded cats before but none to that degree.

Duston Wicker is facing charges under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta for causing deliberate harm to an animal.
Source: The Calgary Sun - March 4, 2006
Update posted on Mar 6, 2006 - 10:53AM 

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