Man, 20, faces animal cruelty charge after incident on downtown street

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This article was published 05/04/2025 (192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man is facing an animal cruelty charge after police received a report two dogs were being mistreated on a downtown street Friday.

At about 1:50 p.m., officers were called to the 300 block of Edmonton Street after a man was seen “repeatedly and violently” pulling one of the dog’s leashes, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Saturday.

“Any charge or any incident that involves the mistreatment of animals is taken seriously,” WPS spokesperson Const. Claude Chancy said by phone.

“Somebody had observed the activity that he was doing on these dogs. Then, through the investigation, there was more evidence that corroborated that observation from the concerned citizen,” Chancy said, noting officers obtained video footage of the incident.

Officers located the suspect at a nearby apartment and “though quite unco-operative,” he was taken into custody without incident, police said.

The two dogs were found in a suite and turned over to the city’s Animal Services branch.

Chancy said the dogs have all-black coats and are believed to be mixed breeds, with some Labrador features.

“They are not very big dogs, they are kind of small. They are not lap dogs, but they are not the size of a (German) shepherd either,” he said, estimating they could weigh around 30 pounds each, based on photos obtained by police.

One of the dogs is older, while the other is still considered a puppy, Chancy said.

“Apparently, one is the parent of the other, but I can’t confirm that,” he said.

Chancy could not provide additional details related to the investigation, including which animal suffered the abuse, resulting in the cruelty charge.

A 20-year-old man faces charges of animal cruelty and failing to comply with a release order. Chancy confirmed he was known to police, but did not have previous charges for crimes against animals.

The suspect was released from custody on the condition he not possess animals.

Police did not release his name.

He is the latest person in Winnipeg to face charges of abusing animals.

Irene Lima, 55, and Chad Kabecz, 40,were arrested last October and face an assortment of charges for animal cruelty-related offences. Police allege they killed and tortured cats and sold videos of the crimes online.

Randy Jensen, 24, was formally charged last month with three counts of killing or injuring an animal after three cats were found dead under the Summit Road bridge, near CentrePort Canada Way, on Dec. 8, Dec. 28 and Dec. 30.

The two cases have prompted calls for new regulations to address online sales and free giveaways of cats, dogs and other pets.

The province has hinted measures are on the way.

Chancy encouraged anybody with information or concerns about animal abuse to contact police or animal welfare officials, including the Winnipeg Humane Society and the province’s animal care line.

“The welfare of animals is quite important to both law enforcement and the community at large,” he said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca