Well-known rescued Windsor dog 'Justice' dies

Windsor, Ont. -

The dog at the centre of an animal abuse case in Windsor over five years ago has passed away.

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society announced the passing of “Justice” in a social media post on Monday.

The shelter said he had his family by his side when he died at 11 years old, following a brief illness.

 

“I want him not to be remembered for all of the destruction that happened around him but for the peace that he found afterwards,” said Jamie Pavao, who adopted Justice.

 

The small dog, who was later named Justice, was left in a field near Walker Road on Dec. 15, 2015, with his muzzle, neck and paws tightly bound with tape.

“It was nothing you wanna find when you’re an animal lover so it was pretty emotional,” said Dean Cresswell, who along with his two huskies, found Justice abandoned and in rough shape.

A dog was found with its muzzle, paws, and neck tightly bound with electrical tape in Windsor. (Courtesy Windsor/Essex County Humane Society)

After a lengthy recovery, the humane society helped Justice find a forever home.

“He came in at a vulnerable time for our lives when we had just lost a dog,” Pavao said.

On Feb.1, 2016, Michael Hill of Amherstburg was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal in court.

“Justice really raised awareness of that,” Windsor/Essex County Humane Society executive director Melanie Coulter said. “Really got people motivated to advocate for change and that’s a lasting impact he’s going to have.”

Animal rights activists rally outside a bail hearing for Michael Hill, who is accused of animal abuse, in Windsor, Ont. on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. (Chris Campbell / CTV Windsor)

Before his sentencing, Hill had been held without bail for nearly two months, and animal rights activists seeking 'Justice for Justice' made their presence felt at several of his court appearances.

“This little tiny dog who went through so much I think really just touched people and he made a difference,” Coulter said.

- With files from CTV Windsor's Angelo Aversa