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Kensington - the Cat
| Kensington |
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In May 2001 Kensington,
a beautiful gentle tabby, and white female cat was tortured and mutilated to death. Convicted of her death were Jesse Power,
Anthony Wennekers, and Matt Kaczorowski. They had video taped her 17 minute ordeal with glee.
Kensington's skinned
remains were found in a beer fridge. Jesse Power complained, “the police went all righteous on me." Wennekers,
blamed cats themselves by stating they're, "just a smarter version of rats, an artifact of human culture."
Jesse Power received
90 days on weekends for his part. Anthony Wennekers, and Matt Kaczorowski were giving time served waiting for trial. All complained
of the treatment they received from fellow prisoners because of their act.
Power's and Wenneker's
judge undermined Kensington's life and horrific death by stating, “There are worse ways for a cat to die.”
Matt Kaczorowski initially
ran from the law but was tracked down by one determined Canadian - Katie Woodward. Woodward's website: www.findmatt.org lead
to his arrest for Kensington's death in Vancouver
in March 2003.
Not only was Kensington's death one of the most horrific acts of cruelty ever recorded against an animal in Canada
it also displays the lack of seriousness in which animal abuse cases are taken in our courts. Canadian lawmakers need
to significantly and meaningfully update our cruelty laws and to 'reeducate our judges' to take these cases
seriously and to apply these laws to the offenders.
| Daisy Duke before her death |
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Daisy Duke -the Dog
On October 8 2006 Daisy Duke a loveable female Labrador Border collie cross had all four of her
legs bound, a bag pulled over her head, duct tape wrapped around her snout and a rope tied around her neck so tightly it dislodge
one of her eyes. She was also beaten with a shovel and dragged behind a vehicle in Didsbury Alberta for over a kilometer before being left on the road
to die slowly from several broken bones including her neck, back and pelvis.
Found alive by a passerby Daisy was mercifully euthanized by Kreb's Veterinary Services veterinarian
Dr Andy Mencarelli at the scene. "It was the most disturbing thing I've ever seen in
my life" said Dr Mencarelli. The RCMP followed Daisy's bloody trail back to her owner's residence. Didsbury RMCP
Cpl Kevin Fischer said, "In my 10 years of policing this is the most horrendous act
that I have observed on an animal."
Daisy Duke’s owner, Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, has been charged with animal cruelty along
with a 17-year old young offender who cannot be named. Please note these individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a
court of law. Neither has denied killing Daisy but insist it was an accident.
As a result of Daisy Duke’s death Didsbury dog groomer Tamara Chaney took matters into her own hands by distributing her petition nation wide, "Tamara Chaney's - Stop Animal Cruelty". Over four months nearly 112,000 signatures were collected and handed into Alberta MP Myron Thompson. This petition
was handed into Parliament February 19 2007.
**UPDATE**
The 17-year old young offender has pleaded guilty . On May
10 2007 he was sentenced to 90 days house arrest and two years probation . No fine was handed down
by the court. This 17-year old young offender was two weeks away from his eighteenth birthday when Daisy was tortured
to near death yet he was treated as a minor.
On May 23 2007 Daniel
Charles Haskett aged 19 entered a guilty plea. The court has ordered Haskett to submit to a psychological
assessment before a sentencing hearing on August 1 2007.
| 'Harley' & Dr Jay Black of Kingston |
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| Photo by Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard |
Terrier Puppy
On February 7 2007 a four-month-old wire Terrier cross was found abandoned and injured
in a snow bank in Kingston Ontario.
'Harley' had frostbite and a badly fractured elbow which required $2000 plus in medical expenses.
Holding Harley is Dr Jay Black of Bayridge Animal Hospital. Dr Black reconstructed the pup's elbow and is please to say Harley is progressing. Currently Harley is in the care of the Kingston Humane Society.
A call went out through radios stations in Kingston appealing for funds. Kingstonians and other residents raised over $5000.00 for Harley's expenses
Harley's story is an 'all too common' occurrence in Canada, which leaves
Humane Societies, and vets like Dr Black frustrated. Yet these professionals are not deterred by these heartless acts of animal
cruelty. Instead, they are even more determined to continue championing these unfortunate animals.
**UPDATE**
'Harley' has recovered well and has been adopted by a loving local resident.
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