Dog's beating draws protesters to courthouse

Protesters, some with dogs,shouted and jeered outside an Alberta courthouse Monday as a 19-year-old charged with animal cruelty appeared in court.

As many as 100 people from across the province surrounded and heckled Daniel Charles Haskett as he left theDidsburycourthouse.

Haskett was whisked away in a waiting minivanbut not before angryprotesterskicked the vehicle and pounded on the hood. Othersfrom the crowdlooked on in tears.

"The Canadian government is not taking animal abuse cases seriously. If this kind of support comes from a town as small as Didsbury, can you imagine how people feel all over Canada?" said Kim McDonald, who drove from Edmonton for the protest.

Last month, a badly beaten Labrador retriever-collie cross was found bleeding in Didsbury. Police say the dog, named Daisy Duke, wasHaskett's family pet.

Haskett and a 17-year-old have been charged with injuring or endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Hasketthas also been charged with obstructing justice.

Dog bound in duct tape: police

The doghad duct tape around her muzzle, front and rear legs, according to Didsbury RCMP.She also had a tow rope around her neck and was likely dragged behind a vehicle for three blocks, police said.

The dog was wounded so severely a veterinarian had to put her down.

Word of Monday's court appearance had been spreading through internet animal rights chat rooms and websites.

The caseinspired Didsbury resident Tamara Chaney to organize a cross-Canada petition calling for more serious penalties in animal cruelty cases.

A maximum of six months in jail anda $2,000 fine is not strong enough punishment, she says.

However, she decided not to attend the demonstration.

"I think their hearts are in the right place. They want some better punishment for animal abusers, but a lot of times they're so radical in trying to get their point across that the actual message is lost, unfortunately."

Chaney says she may attend the trial.

Meanwhile, she says she's hoping to collect at least 10,000 signatures on her petition.She plans to give it to her MP, Conservative Myron Thompson,to take to Ottawa at the end of November.