A Barrie, Ont., woman has been convicted of animal cruelty after an investigation into the death of a severely neglected dog, a case that also marked a first for Barrie police. The investigation began last July after Provincial Animal Welfare Services alerted officers about a female Boxer/German Shepherd mix that had been taken to a local emergency veterinary clinic in severe condition. Despite efforts to save her, police say the dog died. Investigators say the dog’s owner, a 23-year-old Barrie woman, had failed to provide adequate nutrition and veterinary care over an extended period. As part of the investigation, officers organized a necropsy to confirm the cause of death and assess whether the dog’s condition was connected to neglect. Police say it was the first time the service had used a necropsy in an animal cruelty case. The examination, conducted with help from the veterinary pathology team at the University of Guelph, provided evidence that helped support the investigation. On Friday, the woman was convicted of cruelty to animals by causing unnecessary suffering.
