WHETHER A Thornhill dog will be declared dangerous and destroyed has been delayed until the new year.
A civil court hearing into Cain the German shepherd’s fate missed its start date of Dec. 10 after the out-of-town judge’s arrival was delayed until 7 p.m. that evening.
The hearing took place all day Dec. 11 in Terrace provincial court but still needed a second day, which will not be scheduled until the new year as court dates until the end of the year are already booked.
On April 5 of this year, Cain allegedly attacked three boys, tearing the pants of one, biting the arm of a second boy and knocking down and standing on the back of a third boy in lower Thornhill, reported police at that time.
The dog was seized and taken to the Terrace animal shelter as it was a weekend and the Thornhill animal shelter wasn’t open, said police. He was taken to the Thornhill Shelter the following week.
Bylaw officers sought an order of destruction and court dates were set for December 10 and 11.
In the meantime, his owner, Paul MacNeil, and supporters asked for the canine to be moved to the Kitimat Humane Society where he could be rehabilitated and where it was believed that conditions were more conducive to a long-term stay in a shelter.
Several attempts to have him moved by appealing to the regional district were made but the dog remained in the Thornhill shelter as of his hearing date.
Likely the hearing will have its second, and final, day in court in February when presiding judge Brian Neal of Victoria is scheduled to return.