House arrest in Didsbury animal cruelty case

A central Alberta man who pleaded guilty in a horrific case of animal abuse involving a pet dog has been sentenced to three months of house arrest followed by two years of probation.

The young man from Didsbury, Alta., was less than three weeks away from his 18th birthday when he became involved in what his defence lawyer told court was a "poorly thought-out euthanasia attempt."

Court heard the accused accidentally backed over a lab-border collie cross belonging to his best friend's mother. The teenhelped tryto kill the dog, named Daisy Duke, by taping a plastic bag over its head, dragging it behind a car and hitting it over the head with a shovel.

The dog was found still alive in the middle of an intersection, but had to beput downby a veterinarian.

The young man will also have to abide by a curfew for nine months after his house arrest is up and do 240 hours ofcommunity service.

Another male accused, Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial May 23.