Hamilton man guilty of causing distress to animal, fined $2K after video showed him dragging dog

CBC News

· Posted: Jul 16, 2025 2:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

WARNING: This communicative contains disturbing details about carnal cruelty.

A Hamilton antheral has been recovered blameworthy of causing distress to an carnal and fined $2,000, 2 years aft a video showed him dragging his canine down a sidewalk.

Neil Stratford was convicted connected June 10 under Ontario's Animal Welfare Services Act, the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced recently. 

Ministry spokesperson Brent Ross told CBC Hamilton the charges were related to the video. In it, Stratford is seen whipping Merlin with a leash and pulling him astir 100 metres down a sidewalk successful the Dundas area.

CBC Hamilton attempted to scope Stratford for remark by phone. The idiosyncratic who answered astatine his residence hung up aft a newsman told the individual who was calling. 

The 2023 video was wide shared and prompted a nationalist outcry. 

Dog 'never got the accidental to genuinely heal'

At the time, Ashley DaSilva, laminitis of volunteer-based Hamilton carnal rescue group Fur Warriors, criticized the effect from constabulary and the province, telling CBC Hamilton she thought Stratford should person faced transgression charges.

On July 7, Fur Warriors posted connected Facebook astir the decision in Stratford's case, saying Merlin "was failed each measurement of the way" and "never got the accidental to genuinely heal."

Ross said Merlin was removed from Stratford's possession and stayed successful the attraction of Animal Welfare Services until dying of cardiac apprehension a twelvemonth later.

Stratford, who was besides recovered blameworthy of permitting distress to an animal, is prohibited from owning, caring for oregon surviving with animals for 15 years. He must besides let Animal Welfare Services inspectors to travel by unannounced 4 times per year and notify that work if his code changes. 

Ross was not capable to corroborate if a 3rd complaint against Stratford was dropped.