A Nanaimo man charged with animal cruelty for failing to get his dog groomed properly is banned from owning or caring for animals for the rest of his life.
Paul Korneluk, 74, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing an animal to continue to be in distress under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act on Thursday June 2. He received a $200 fine and the lifetime ban.
The charges were laid after SPCA officials went to Korneluk's home last February to follow up on a complaint.
Officials found Buckley, a lhasa apso/shih tzu mix, covered in dense matting and ordered Korneluk to take his dog to the vet immediately. A vet shaved 2.3 kilograms of fur from Buckley's body, uncovering numerous sores and infections.
Crown lawyer John Blackman said this was not a case of active abuse, but a case of neglect and the dog, which Korneluk has owned since 1997, is now dead.
Korneluk told the News Bulletin last spring that the dog had more hair than it should have because a previous experience with a groomer left it in need of an anesthetic for grooming and he couldn't find a vet to help.