(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 03, 2013 - 2:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - A B.C. rancher was handed a conditional discharge today after killing her neighbour's dog whom she believed was attacking her livestock.
"This is not a case which calls for a jail sentence of any type," said Kamloops provincial court judge Chris Cleavely today during sentencing.
Ruth Robinson, a rancher at Sharpe Lake near Clinton, was found guilty in July for one count of killing or injuring an animal after shooting and killing her neighbour's 120-pound housepet named Bud in June 2011.
During the trial, Robinson admitted to shooting the dog, but told the court she thought she was well within her rights, protecting about $40,000 worth of cattle when the dog chased and stressed out the animals.
Crown prosecutor Alex Janse recommended Robinson serve a jail sentence of 60 to 90 days for killing Bud.
However, Cleavely said he was confident Robinson was already deterred from doing it again.
"There was little time for rational thought," he said. "I need not be concerned about specifically deterring Ms. Robinson."
He added that Robinson has no prior criminal record and immediately called 911 following the incident. While she has managed to stay out of a jail cell, Robinson was handed $1,500 fine.
To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca, call: (250) 319-7494 or tweet: @jess__wallace.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013