A Sooke man who pleaded guilty to public mischief and causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal after he broke his dog's jaw has been given a conditional six-month sentence, which will be served in the community, and a $100 victim surcharge.
On Thursday, Jan 17, Derek Reid received his sentence after breaking his dog's jaw by kicking it in the chin with steel-toe boots in September 2023, and later lying to police about the incident.
According to the Crown's summary of the events, on Sept. 6, 2023, Reid called the Sooke RCMP to report that he was attacked by two men 鈥� one of which was armed with a baton 鈥� while he and his two young daughters were walking the dog. The attacker had struck his pet in the jaw with the baton, Reid claimed at the time.
"The jaw was essentially hanging on one side, and there was a significant amount of dried blood," said Crown prosecutor Tanner Conway, describing the dog's state when it arrived at the veterinarian. The dog was later euthanized due to its injuries.
After an extensive police investigation and multiple follow-up statements from Reid, police grew suspicious of Reid's story.
He eventually admitted to not being truthful, but then told police another version of events: that his pet was off-leash and attacked a jogger who had defended themselves by striking the dog. Reid claimed he lied the first time because he was worried about the fallout with his wife, who he described as adamant in not letting the "reactive" pet go off-leash in public.
"Reid finally admitted that he got angry at the dog for barking incessantly and kicked him," said Conway. "He was saying that it was a bad reaction and he had steel-toe boots on that time, the impact being harder than he intended it to be."
According to the Government of B.C., judges use conditional sentences "if they are satisfied [the accused is] not a danger to the community and do not have a history of failing to obey court orders."
