Case involving alleged dog abuse having 'big impact' on animal activists
Chelcea Martin and Cody Morin-Bond face one count of injuring an animal each
A group of animal activists are vowing to see a case involving an alleged dog abuse incident through in Sudbury, Ont.
Half a dozen demonstrators shouted from the sidewalk in front of the courthouse on Wednesday morning, carrying brightly coloured signs saying animal abuse is wrong.
"Would we tolerate this behaviour if it was a child?" organizer Sheila Bianconi asked.
"I think if it was a child, there would be three times as many people as there are today."
Chelcea Martin and Cody Morin-Bond are each charged with one count of injuring an animal.
Sources who know the pair confirm the two are connected to videos that went viral in June depicting alleged animal abuse against a dog named Chico.
'Engrained in people's minds'
"That's why the outrage is so great now is because people actually visualized it," said Jill Pessot, director of rescue group Pet Save.
"It's different when you hear it or you see the aftereffects, but when you're watching that video it's engrained in people's minds, so it's a big impact."
Martin and Morin-Bond did not appear before the court during their first appearance.
Their case is scheduled to be heard again on August 2.
Animal activists hoping for stiff sentence
When reached by CBC News, Martin declined to comment on the allegations against her. But said: "It's no one's concern. Why does this matter? You guys know one side of the story."
Attempts to reach Morin-Bond were unsuccessful.
Bianconi and Pessot plan to watch the remainder of proceedings.
"The video is strong, the evidence is strong, it's all right there," Pessot said.
"Hopefully, we'll see a stiff sentence on this one, and hopefully it will act as a deterrent for others."