FORT McMURRAY — Wood Buffalo RCMP have charged a 22-year-old woman following an investigation into a dog abandonment incident captured on video and widely shared on social media.
Police say they received multiple complaints on April 14 after footage showed a dog being pushed from a pickup truck onto a frozen surface near Amoco Road and Willow Lake the previous day.
The dog, later named Frankie, was located before police became involved and is now in the care of the Fort McMurray SPCA.
The organization says Frankie has been assessed and appears to be in good physical health, though she remains frightened and withdrawn. Staff say she is being kept out of public kennels to allow time to decompress, with additional care and monitoring in place.
RCMP say their investigation led to the identification of a suspect, who was arrested without incident on April 20.
The accused, who cannot be named until charges are formally sworn in court, is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
She was released on an undertaking with conditions and is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice on May 27.
The SPCA says the case has prompted an outpouring of community support and is highlighting the importance of resources for abused and abandoned animals, including funding for veterinary care.
Police are encouraging the public to report suspicious or criminal activity, noting community tips were key in advancing the investigation.
Comments