The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society has laid a charge of animal cruelty against a Windsor man after a dog was abused in an elevator.
The man was taking care of two dogs while their owner was in the hospital. During that time, he was shown on surveillance video allegedly slamming one dog into the wall of an elevator at an apartment building and hitting the dog several times on the head.
Humane Society Executive Director Melanie Coulter says the video was found during routine observation and it happened some time ago.
The 5-year-old Shitzu, named Andy, suffered soft-tissue injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
"It is very disturbing," says Coulter after watching the video. "I don't think there's any other way to say it. You look at it, and you just gasp because the dog wasn't doing anything and then [it is] just attacked out of nowhere."
The man faces a charge of causing distress to an animal under the Ontario SPCA Act, which carries a possible sentence of two years in jail or a $60,000 fine. He is expected in court February 6.
His name has not been released, and both dogs are back in the care of their owner.
