- David Oakley faces charges of causing damage or injury to animals and causing animals unnecessary suffering
- Protesters gathered outside Pictou Provincial Courthouse demanding harsher penalties for animal abusers
- Oakley did not appear in court and was represented by his attorney
A rally calling for harsher penalties for perpetrators of animal abuse was held outside the Pictou Provincial Courthouse April 29.
They were out there to raise the public’s awareness around the case of Meeka, the dog who on Feb. 17 was discovered with severe injuries on a property in Pictou County. SPCA officers also removed six dead puppies and another dead dog from the residence of David Oakley.
Oakley, 55, was scheduled to appear in court early on April 29 and the picketers were waiting.
“We’re not going to tolerate animal abuse anymore,” said Brenda Gerrior who organized the action. “I feel like I’m part of the problem if I’m not saying anything.”
Protesters were not allowed to bring signs into the courthouse and many were asked to leave the room when those whose names were on Monday’s docket were unable to find seating.
However, Oakley was not among them.
He did not appear in court on Monday, and was instead represented by his defense attorney Elizabeth Cooper who asked that the matter be adjourned.
Oakley faces charges of causing damage or injury to animals and causing animals unnecessary suffering.
Back in February, Oakley took to social media where he appears to admit to killing the dogs.
‘It is true, I did put my dogs down’ he wrote in a Facebook post, adding that he had been previously unsuccessful in finding homes for the dogs.
“In today’s society, there’s no excuse for not asking for help,” said Gerrior outside the court house.
Cooper and Oakley have both declined to comment, and the landlord of the property where Oakley had been living told The News that Oakley has since moved.
Oakley’s court appearance has been adjourned until May 6.
Unwanted dogs can be surrendered to the local SPCA. People can also go through the SPCA P.U.P. Program. In that, individuals surrender the puppies, but the mother is spayed and then returned to the owner at no cost.
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