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8/15/2012
A British Columbia woman is accused of burning a pet dog to death in northwestern Alberta, and fatally injuring another.
RCMP Corporal Roy Kennedy says officers were called to the Nitehawk Recreational Area near Grovedale back on July 7th, after witnesses began to hear and see some disturbing things.
"They responded, initially, to an animal cruelty complaint or an animal in danger," remarked Kennedy. "When they got there, what they found was the burnt remains of what appeared to be a dog in a kennel in a fire pit at a campground, just outside of Grande Prairie."
Kennedy says the officers failed to find the body of a second dog that, based on witnesses accounts, is thought to have died of its injuries after fleeing into a densely wooded area.
Debra Holden, 53, of Fort St. John, B.C. has been charged with two counts of injuring or endangering animals and two counts of causing animals unnecessary suffering.
Kennedy says investigators believe Holden had been drinking and in an argument with her husband who had left the campground before the dogs were killed.
"He did show up a short time later and was quite distraught about what had transpired and the news that we had to break to him."
Holden is due back in Grande Prairie Provincial Court in September to enter a plea.
Until then, she's been released under a number of conditions which include not owning or possessing any dogs. (td)
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