FILE PHOTO

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A homeless Campbell River man whose dog was confiscated after he "hurl(ed) her like a football" has lost his last chance to get her back.

The man, identified only as D.B., tried to argue for her return saying the incident was unusual for him and that they needed each other, according to the Farm Industry Review Board, the forum for such appeals.

Daisy, his dachshund, was seized by the SPCA after the incident July 7, 2023. The review board saw video of the incident that began with an argument with two other residents at a shelter. 

"(D.B.) can then be seen shifting his weight back onto one leg, lifting Daisy into the air, and hurling her like a football at the two residents standing at the gate," the review board decision says. "Daisy flies through the air, bounces off the shoulder of one resident and then appears to then hit the gate before falling to the concrete. This throwing of Daisy and her collision with the other resident, the gate and then the ground was the precipitating incident that ultimately led to the surrender of Daisy."

The dog suffered minor injuries including "visible injuries to her chin" and "appeared to be in shock and was trembling."

RCMP investigated and later charged D.B. with causing cruelty to an animal but it appears those charges were later dropped.

D.B. told the review board the stress of living in a shelter, in combination with “everything else”, caused a “black-out seizure” that resulted in him “accidentally” throwing Daisy, a dog “I truly care for and love”.

He told them Daisy is his therapy dog, even though she hasn’t undergone training, he said she calms him, and he needs her.

“I don't have people as friends. I have animals as friends… I can't even go out and public without shaking right now because everybody around here in Campbell River knows that Daisy is attached to my hip. They know that she is part of my life and not having her has brought on even more stress,” D.B. told the review board. “She's lived one of the best lives that I can ever provide her and I really want to continue providing that best life that I can do for her and for me, it means everything to me to have her back because I want to prove to you guys… that I can continue providing that best life that I have for her."

The review board was unswayed however, calling the violent incident "the bell that cannot be unrung."

“Daisy provided emotional support to (D.B.), but (D.B.)'s inability to manage his mental health and control his anger meant that Daisy was in an unstable environment herself and would have experienced ongoing stress and anxiety,” the panel said.

Daisy is now property of the BC SPCA.

"The Society is permitted to keep Daisy and, in its discretion destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of Daisy."

Not only did they refuse to give the dog back, they hit the homeless man with a $458 vet bill. 

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