People in Ontario who horribly mistreat, torture, neglect and even kill animals in Ontario go to TRAFFIC COURT!!!
In very rare cases, the individual will be charged under the Criminal Code of Canada…but in the vast majority of cases – they do not!
If – and I do mean IF an individual is charged they are charged under the Provincial Offences Act. The action they are charged with is an “offence” – NOT a crime in the eyes of Ontario. They are heard in what is often referred to as TRAFFIC COURT!
There are many many examples but I am going to use the case of Carly Young from Niagara Falls (but who now resides in Barrie, ONT. She is (was) the owner of a beautiful young German shepherd named Dakota.
Carly Young killed Dakota.
On a very hot July day in 2024, Carly Young tied Dakota outside in the sun, tied her to a glass patio table and put a groomers type muzzle on Dakota.
For those not familiar with a groomers muzzle…these are fabric or plastic and is put on a dog for something like a nail trimming, vet visit. They are clasped tight around the dogs snout, the dog is unable to pant or drink water. Obviously these are only meant to be worn for a very short period of time.
Dakota broke loose and started running down the street – muzzled, cord around her neck, pulling the 4 metal legs of the glass patio table.
Shortly thereafter, Dakota collapsed, started having massive seizures then died. She was skill wearing the very tightly clasped groomers muzzle. A member of the public ran to her side when she collapsed but it was too late…she was gone.
The Niagara SPCA retrieved Dakota’s body and called Provincial Animal Welfare Services (AWS). Dakota was taken to the University of Guelph for a necropsy.
The necropsy results were crystal clear – Dakota died from heat stroke and asphyxiation. The Vet who analyzed the necropsy results – Dr. Ian Welch DVM indicated that Dakota would have experienced “extreme distress”. The groomers muzzle made it impossible for Dakota to pant – which is how dogs regulate their body temperature. Dakota could not….her brain cooked and her organs shut down.
Dr. Welch also indicated that in his expert experience, even with the extreme heat of the day Dakota would not have died if she was not wearing that muzzle.
TO BE CLEAR, CARLY YOUNG PUT THAT MUZZLE ON DAKOTA!
Dakota suffered unimaginable fear, distress and pain because Carly Young “caused unnecessary suffering” – Canadian Criminal Code 445.1
But Carly Young is not facing Criminal Code charges. She is in traffic court (aka Provincial Offences court) facing animal cruelty offence charges.
And why is that? Good question! Because Provincial Animal Welfare Services (AWS) chose not to engage the Niagara Police Service. Did not advise them that they had a case that rises to the level of a crime – when all the evidence clearly points to it being a crime.
Apparently AWS has no protocol to engage police!
And now the kicker….earlier this week (March 2), Carly Young (and her controlling husband Christopher) once again – for the third time said F U to the court. They were ordered previously to appear in person on March 2 in Welland Provincial Offences Court. They did not. Instead, Christopher came on the ZOOM and told the court that Carly is unfit to stand trial and that he had to take her to hospital on a Form 1 – 72 hour hold to undergo a psychiatric assessment. But he had her on phone!
Christopher claimed that they had indicated several times Carly was unfit to stand trial. The Justice corrected him each time he told this lie; she said she has been the Justice throughout and it was never brought forward to the Court that Carly was unfit.
So here we are….
- AWS only investigated Dakota’s death because of massive public outcry for action
- Necropsy results showed horrendous suffering was inflicted on Dakota and still AWS failed to engage Niagara police indicting that the severity of the injuries point towards possible criminality
- Niagara Police never investigated because they were never involved by AWS
- The Crown Attorney’s office was actually surprised to hear that Niagara police never investigated
- This joke of a “trial” is being heard in traffic court instead of criminal court
- Carly Young – if convicted faces a slap on the wrist…a request by the Crown for jail time will more than likely be put aside due to the fact there is no precedent for jail time…God forbid precedent is actually SET!!!
- If convicted, in Provincial Offence court – she will have no criminal record
- If on the off chance the Justice imposes restrictions …it only is in effect in this province
Dakota is dead!
Carly Young, by her actions cause Dakota’s death…and no one seems to give a damn.
Humane Initiative filed a private prosecution in St. Catherine’s court on Tuesday, March 3rd. This is a request now pending with the Court that a criminal investigation be commenced by Niagara Police.
We should hear the Court’s ruling within the next 5 days.
We are Dakota’s voice…
