SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man has been charged with theft and killing an animal after a dog was taken from a vehicle and found dead by police last Thursday.

Garlic, a one-and-a-half year old Chinese pug, was taken from a car parked downtown last Thursday and brutally beaten and killed. Vanessa Baron, Garlic's owner, said she hopes her tragic story will remind people not to leave pets in their car while running errands. - photo courtesy of Vanessa Baron

Police arrested Lloyd Brandon Thrasher, 23, downtown around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 after receiving reports of "several vehicle break-ins" in the downtown area, according to an RCMP press release issued Friday. A one-and-a-half year old Chinese pug was taken from one of the vehicles. Police located it nearby, but it had been killed.

Const. Kathy Law told Yellowknifer Thrasher was picked up near to where the break-ins occurred.

"Right after they (police officers) got the call they found the suspect walking down 50 Avenue," said Law.

In a subsequent press release on Monday, police stated the cause of the dog's death had been determined to be "criminal" but did not release details.

Thrasher is facing charges of killing or injuring an animal, theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.

Thrasher made a brief appearance in court on Monday morning, and addressed the court.

"I will not be pleading guilty but I did commit the offence," Thrasher said, not specifying to which charge he was speaking.

Judge Christine Gagnon told him, "It's better not to tell me too much."

Then he said, "I went for a walk. I was drinking," before being cut off by his lawyer, Paul Falvo, who asked him to sit down. Falvo removed himself from the case Tuesday, citing conflict.

Though the NWT Dog Act currently entails light punishment for cruelty and abuse to dogs - a maximum $25 fine or 30 days in jail - Thrasher is being charged under the Criminal Code, under which he could face up to five years in prison if indicted, or up to 18 months and/or up to $10,000 fines if he is sentenced to a summary conviction.

The decision whether to try him by summary offence or the more serious indictment is made by the Crown.

In court, Thrasher said he wanted to clear his name and didn't mind the details being published in the media, and added he didn't want to be known as a person who "goes around killing small dogs."

He was kept in custody and is scheduled to appear before a justice of the peace today at 4 p.m. for a decision on whether he will remain in custody or be released until his next court date.

- with files from Terrence McEachern

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