Charges are pending against a New Brunswick woman who believes she rescued a dog from neglect.
Animal rights advocates say they dug the animal out of a snow bank following a snowstorm in Kent County three weeks ago.
Nicole Thebeau admits she took the dog without the owner’s permission after hearing about the situation.
“I drove right in, knocked on the door and, of course, nobody was there,” says Thebeau.
“Nobody was living there, and I turned around, and I found the dog. It was just a pitiful sight. He was just sitting there with this big chain on his neck, shaking.”
Thebeau says the animal is being fostered with a family.
She also says she was surprised to find the police at her door Wednesday evening.
“The RCMP showed up last night and he said, ‘you know, the owners are pressing charges against you for theft and trespassing.’”
So far, Thebeau hasn’t been charged but police are investigating. She says her supporters are now raising funds to help with any legal costs.
Thebeau says she was simply trying to rescue a dog in need, but her actions have attracted some critics, including the New Brunswick SPCA.
“When other people get involved in these investigations, what they in fact do is they remove the evidence or they corrupt evidence, and therefore we are left without the means to charge the person,” explains Hilary Howes of the New Brunswick SPCA.
The SPCA does agree with Thebeau, however, that laws covering animal care need to change, especially laws around tethering.
Animal rights advocate Rita Bihr says a rally taking place in Fredericton on the weekend will be a step in that direction.
“Many points which need to be changed in the standard of care, and then the main factor is the tethering law,” says Bihr. “The dogs cannot be tethered anymore 24/7.”
Police say charges against Thebeau are pending.
Attempts to contact the dog’s owner were unsuccessful.
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
