Proceed by indictment and recommend and impose maximum penalty, including a lifetime ban on owning animals

The Issue

It is alleged that Artyom Goncharuk of Richmond, BC, Canada, killed his Pomeranian dog Kaylly by stabbing her 61 times. Goncharuk has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty: one count of unlawfully killing or injuring an animal under the Criminal Code and one count of causing distress to an animal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. He has also been convicted of several counts of theft, driving while prohibited, and has had a peace bond instituted against him. Also, although he has not yet been proven guilty, in relation to a separate incident occurring in August 2014, he is also facing charges of assault on a peace officer; attempting to take the weapon of a peace officer; carrying, using, or threatening to use a weapon, and; wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

In short, the alleged crime against Kaylly is just one incident in what appears to be a pattern of criminality for Artyom Goncharuk, so this case needs to be taken extremely seriously by the courts. According to the National Link Coalition, rather than being a minor crime with no relation to other criminal behaviour, studies show that animal cruelty is, in fact, a “red flag indicator” of the potential for other criminality, including violence to humans, to be either co-occurring or occur in the future. Animals, people, and communities will be safer if animal abuse is detected early and intervention happens immediately with the use of appropriate risk assessment tools and treatment programs created specifically to target animal abuse.

Please sign this petition to request that Crown Counsel proceed with the Criminal Code charge as an indictable offence and that, if Artyom Goncharuk is convicted, they recommend to the judge, and the judge imposes, the maximum sentence available for these charges, including a lifetime ban against owning, having custody, or being in the company of animals in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Please also consider signing the following petition requesting that everyone convicted of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code of Canada be required to undergo mandatory risk assessment and treatment developed specifically to target animal abuse: http://goo.gl/ESsZIA

FOR UPDATES ON THIS PETITION AND TO SIGN OTHER ANIMAL CRUELTY PETITIONS:
https://www.facebook.com/CaptainsLegacy.EndingAnimalAbuse/

LINKS TO NEWS ARTICLES REGARDING KAYLLY:
http://www.richmondreview.com/news/297559921.html