Seeking Justice for Breezy

"Traditionally, the sentencing, in our opinion, has been far, far, too low. I think perhaps (the courts) are lagging behind community opinion. I think our community understands how serious these crimes are. They understand that there's a link between crimes against animals and violence against humans."
"This is a very serious case, something that our whole community is outraged about, the whole country is outraged about, so I'm looking forward, I hope, to seeing serious sentencing in this case."
Bruce Roney, executive director, Ottawa Humane Society

In fact the savagery of the attack against the dog named Breezy, a black Labrador-shepherd mix, by Steven Helfer, 24, so appalled people in general when the news was published about the circumstances that a petition was circulated  and over 100,000 people world-wide took the trouble to sign it, asking that the maximum sentence possible be meted out to this horrendous animal abuser who seemed to feel no compunction whatever at the pain and suffering he caused this dog.

He admitted having kicked Breezy in the head with steel-toed boots, hit her repeatedly with a rake and smashed her "over and over" with a shovel he held over his head for maximum force before delivering each blow that rained down on her, on October 16. He used the rake, then a long-handled shovel, to repeatedly beat the dog, as horrified neighbours pleaded, then demanded that he stop. At that interference, he threatened to do the same to them.

Breezy, the Labrador-shepherd cross beaten with a shovel and left for dead in a Dumpster, is awaiting surgery while recovering in the care of the Ottawa Humane Society. Veterinarians say her health has improved, though she is still considered to be in critical condition.  Handout photo , Ottawa Humane Society

Breezy attempted to rise to her feet between blows but every time she managed to, she was hit again with the shovel until she no longer was able to move. Steven Helfer lifted the dog into a wheelbarrow, covered Breezy, then ran off down the street to reach a large trash bin where he dumped the horribly injured animal. A neighbour leaped into the garbage bin to try to restore life to the dog.

"It was so vicious" said Myrna McNab, when she heard that the court had ordered Mr. Helfer to undergo a psychiatric assessment before sentencing. "To me that's great. I'm glad he did (pleaded guilty) because he needs to serve time and he also needs to get help, because he obviously has something wrong with him." 

Breezy had suffered massive injuries including lacerations to her head and body, broken teeth, long, deep gashes to her muzzle, fractures to her skull, a swollen brain and a fractured rib. A large gash under her right eye might still threaten the loss of that eye. Air was leaking from one of her lungs. Her head injuries exposed bone fragments, muscle and nerves. She had stopped breathing en route to the humane society.

Mr. Telfer's mother and sister described for the court the brutality they had themselves witnessed, with Mr. Telfer killing helpless animals. He had a history of beating, maiming and killing animals. According to what they have said, he had been abusing Breezy for a lengthy period of time. Rachel Lacroix, Mr. Helfer's mother, termed her son a "monster". She said he had threatened her once with a meat cleaver promising the same fate for her as animals he had destroyed.

Breezy, the 18-month-old female Labrador-Shepherd that was found severely beaten and left for dead in a Manor Park dumpster Oct. 16, 2013 is on the mend according to Ottawa Humane Society officials. OHS photo

What is almost as difficult to understand as the vicious brutality of a young man to helpless, dependent animals, is a mother who knows how atrocious her son's attitude is to animals and who fears him, yet deciding to give him a gift of an animal for Christmas. And that gift, according to news sources, was Breezy.