KENTVILLE, NS - A Hantsport man accused of abusing a pug on video was scheduled to stand trial in early January but will be back in provincial court later this month to change his plea.
Jonah Edward Woodman, 26, is charged under the Criminal Code of Canada with wilfully causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal.
Woodman was present in Kentville provincial court on Jan. 3, when he was scheduled to stand trial. His matter was adjourned to Jan. 17 for a change of plea and sentencing. Woodman had pleaded not guilty to the charge in May 2017.
Woodman was charged after the SPCA received what was described in a January 2017 news release as a “disturbing video” of the abuse of a small dog.
After the news release was issued, Nova Scotia SPCA chief inspector Jo-Anne Landsburg said in an interview that the dog, a tan-coloured pug, was doing well with its owner. The accused is not the owner of the dog.
Landsburg said the fact that the alleged abuse was captured on video made the incident especially disturbing. She said the video depicts the accused being abusive towards the dog but couldn’t confirm if the video came from a cell phone or video camera.
Landsburg said a concerned citizen came in contact with the video and sent it to the SPCA. Investigators tracked down the accused and he was charged.
With the case still before the court, Landsburg couldn’t comment on the extent of the animal’s injuries.
It’s alleged that Woodman committed the offence in Kentville on Aug. 15, 2016. [email protected]
- With files from Colin Chisholm
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