Dear friends, Although I wasn't expecting this to happen today whatsoever, this is great news! Michael Earl Hill has been sentenced to 2 years in prison (a federal sentence!), 3 years of probation, and a 25-year ban on owning animals. I wish it would have been a lifetime ban and that he would also have been ordered to pay the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society for their costs to care for Justice, but it is a decent sentence. I realize that since Hill didn't get the maximum sentence, which is 5 years in jail, some people will think this is unacceptable. Please understand that judges are bound by the principles of sentencing outlined in the Criminal Code (see link to document below for a good summary of those principles). They are also required to take into consideration precedents (previous sentences from other cases with similar facts). If the judge gave a maximum penalty of 5 years, it would most certainly be appealed and the appeal would likely be won because it would be determined that the sentence was out of line with previous sentences for similar cases. That is the way the system works, unfortunately. So, as I have said before, BABY STEPS are what is important. Michael Earl Hill got sentenced to jail time in line with the longest sentence I am aware of in the past, that of Steven Helfer who was convicted of abusing Breezy. This sentence is a victory. There was a time not so long ago that jail time for animal cruelty was unheard of. Thank you to the Crown Attorney, the Judge, everyone who has attended the court rallies, the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society and, especially, everyone who signed and shared the petition relentlessly. May Justice heal completely and live a long and happy life. <3 <3 LINKS TO NEWS ARTICLES: http://blackburnnews.com/chatham/chatham-news/2016/02/01/dog-abuse-case-back-in-court/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter http://windsor.ctvnews.ca/two-year-jail-sentence-in-animal-abuse-case-of-justice-the-dog-1.2760225 http://windsorstar.com/storyline/animal-abuser-in-justice-the-dog-case-sentenced-to-two-years-in-prison LINK TO DOCUMENT ABOUT SENTENCING PRINCIPLES http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/justicereform/volumeone/32appendixten.pdf