Criminal charge laid after ‘disturbing’ dog abuse caught on camera: B.C. SPCA

A dog bowl and leash are seen in this undated stock image. (Image: Shutterstock)

A man from Kelowna, B.C., has been charged after he was allegedly caught on camera abusing a dog, according to an animal welfare organization.

Zachary Petropolis has been charged with one count of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, the B.C. SPCA said in a news release Wednesday.

“We received a number of calls into the BC SPCA’s Animal Helpline about this individual abusing his dog,” said Eileen Drever, BC SPCA’s senior officer of protection and stakeholder relations.

“We initiated an investigation and were able to recommend charges when we received disturbing CCTV footage showing him putting his dog in a chokehold, slamming the dog down onto the floor by the legs and then kicking the dog.”

According to publicly available court records the offence date was Dec. 8, 2023. Petropolis was arrested on March 13, 2025, and released the same day.

The conditions of Petropolis’ release include a prohibition on having any animals “including his fish,” the B.C. SPCA said.

The dog was seized by the charity and has since been rehomed.

Petropolis’ next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.