An aggression scenario with 18-month-old Ram is demonstrated by Prince George RCMP on Wednesday, June 20, 2007.Chris Bolin/ The Globe and Mail
A new B.C. law against injuring a police dog will be tested after a Saanich police animal was kicked in the head by a suspect in a car break-and-enter case.
The animal cruelty law took effect June 2 after an investigation into the slaughter of about 100 sled dogs near Whistler last year.
In the Saanich case, the police dog was kicked repeatedly by a 16-year-old boy at a site along the waterfront north of Victoria on Tuesday night.
The animal was then recalled by its handler and the suspect fled into the water but the police officer followed in a fire department boat and jumped in the water to make the arrest after a struggle.
The suspect faces several charges including assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and injuring a police dog.
B.C.'s new animal cruelty law, which is considered the toughest in Canada, includes fines of up to $75,000 and jail sentences as long as two years.