Boy accused of sexually abusing family cat

By STEVE BRUCE Court Reporter
Mon. Jan 18 - 4:39 PM

A Dartmouth teenager was arrested on the weekend for allegedly trying to have sex with the family cat.

The 16-year-old boy appeared in Halifax youth court today on charges of bestiality, causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, breaching an undertaking and two counts of breaching a youth sentence.

Crown attorney Gary Holt told Judge Pam Williams he was opposed to the boy's release.

The boy will remain in custody at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility in Waterville until Feb. 18, when he returns to court for a bail hearing.

The teenager's identity is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

His mother reported him to the authorities Saturday morning after she discovered evidence that the cat had been sexually abused.

The cat was examined at the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic in Dartmouth's Burnside Park.

“It's a serious offence,” Mr. Holt said of the allegation of bestiality. “It's one that we don't see very often ... in any court.”

Mr. Holt said this is the first bestiality case he's dealt with in 29 years as a prosecutor.

The boy has been charged with sex offences before.

He was sentenced in December to six months of deferred custody and supervision in the community for sexual assault.

He's also scheduled to go to trial May 3 on 10 charges, including single counts of sexual assault and committing an indecent act.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9014864.html
(Submitted by Joe McNally)