Nero is a puppy who it is believed had flammable liquid poured on him and was then lit on fire, and that at the time he was discovered after wandering into a work camp north of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, he was about 7 weeks old. As a result of the burns he suffered, Nero has lost both of his ears and may have life-long injuries to his eyes. His eyelids do not close properly as a result of the burns. There is also a risk of infection, so Nero is not yet out of the woods.

The person who inflicted these horrible injuries on Nero has not yet been identified. We hope that if the person who did this to Nero is identified, they will be charged with this crime. Unfortunately, that may not happen. Crown Counsel apparently needs strong evidence (such as video) before they will proceed with a charge. With regard to Crown determining whether to lay a charge in any particular case, a former Minister of Justice in the Province of British Columbia explained that: “To approve charges, Crown Counsel must be satisfied, based on the whole of the material gathered by the investigative agency, that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and a prosecution is required in the public interest.”

Anyone who would do such a thing to a puppy is a threat not only to animals, but to humans and our communities. In Nero’s case, a prosecution is required by the public interest.

We believe that in making their determination, at least in the most egregious cases of animal cruelty (like that which has been inflicted upon Nero), Crown Counsel in Saskatchewan should place greater weight on the prosecution being “required in the public interest” than on the “likelihood of a conviction.” Let the judge decide if the evidence is sufficient to justify a conviction.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT NERO'S CASE, PLEASE CONTACT THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE IN PATUANAK, SASKATCHEWAN, AT TELEPHONE 306-396-4600.

TO DONATE TO NERO’S CARE:
http://aarcs.ca/aarcs-rescues-puppy-with-facial-burns/

LINKS TO NEWS ARTICLES about Nero:

http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/horrific-case-of-animal-abuse-shocks-rescuers-1.1535495

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/09/seven-week-old-puppy-loses-ears-after-being-brought-to-alberta-animal-rescue-crew-society-suffering-facial-burns

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/11/09/nero-badly-burned-puppy-calgary_n_4247107.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/severely-burned-puppy-nero-recovering-at-calgary-shelter-1.2421246

PHOTO CREDIT: CTV news