Humane Society outraged sentence in dog injury case

(CMR) The Cayman Islands Humane Society has expressed outrage that a father and son duo have only been fined $900 for burning Dora, the dog, in 2017.

Andrei James Challenger and James Rolin Challenger were both convicted yesterday. Andrei, the son, pleaded guilty to exercising proper care and supervision. He received a conditional discharge provided he does not commit another offense in the next 12 month.

His father, James Rolin Challenger, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering. He received the same sentence. He was also ordered to pay the Humane Society for $907.08 for the dog’s treatment over a 6-month period of time.

Andrei Challenger claimed he had lit a fire for mosquitoes and she accidentally walked into it. She suffered severe burns over her body and they waited until the next day to take her to the vet. The vet did not accept a dog would voluntarily walk into a fire.

The Cayman Islands Human Society have expressed outrage at the sentence and explained on their the seriousness of Dora's injuries:

Dora sustained serious burns, was in shock, and the burns had caused her to fill with fluid.  Dora was pregnant, and as a result of her injuries, her puppies had died. We have worked with the Department of Agriculture and Office of Public Prosecutions to ensure that Dora's owners were brought to court for abusing her. Allegedly Dora's owners were remorseful. Today the Challengers were in court today for sentencing. NO JUSTICE at all has been served.

Humane Society Facebook post

The went onto share that:

Conditional discharge (i.e.no punishment for an offence unless another offence is committed within 12 months) is NOT a punishment. A prohibition order preventing them from owning or living with animals again was NOT GRANTED. A fine or community service hours was NOT DEEMED NECESSARY. All that was expected was paying back the CI$ 907 treatment costs that we incurred. We are appalled at this outcome. Abusing animals is serious. Research has shown that animal abusers go on to harm people. 

Many have been outrage by the outcome of this case

Magistrate Grace Donalds presided over the case and was asked by prosecutor Darlene Oko to send a clear message to the community. Despite that request, in the opinion of many, the judge did the opposite. She stated she could not ban the pair from owning a dog for 10-years because no malicious intent was proven.

Dora was rehomed and has made an amazing recovery.

The father was represented by Richard Barton and his son by Dennis Brady.