A Saint John councillor praised residents’ response to a recent video depicting animal abuse.
Councillor-At-Large Gina Hooley said she received various calls from concerned residents about a video recorded by a doorbell camera circulating on social media, in which a dog appears to be tethered behind a car in a Saint John neighbourhood.
Hooley said the video was very heartbreaking and added that she was proud of how residents took action.
“Our slogan kind of says it all,” she said. “We are a little city with a big heart, and the residents definitely did their part in speaking for those who couldn’t speak for themselves.”
The video was uploaded to Facebook on June 22 at 7:27 a.m. and received significant public attention, with around 91,000 views and 216 comments.
Just five hours later, New Brunswick’s SPCA released a statement on social media, sharing that the dog is now safe and under the care of a veterinarian.
Acadia Broadcasting reached to the NBSPCA for further comment on June 23, but the organization declined, citing an ongoing investigation.
Hooley said that while it is recommended to always notify the NBSPCA first when witnessing cases of animal abuse, councillors can be there to support residents in any way they can.
“Sometimes it’s nice to have somebody to talk to; that video was very traumatizing to a lot of people,” she said.
If you witness animal cruelty or neglect, you can help by contacting the NBSPCA’s 24/7 animal cruelty hotline at 1-877-722-1522.
