CORNWALL, Ontario – A foursome of losers is being hunted by the local OSPCA for throwing and smashing the shell of a large turtle in the city’s east end.
Witnesses claim four young men, between the ages of 16 and 18, were seen walking on Lennox Lane carrying a box.
Inside the box was a defenseless, 20-pound turtle that was about to go through hell.
Witnesses said the four young men fired the turtle over the chain-link fence of a public pool in the area, only to see it crash to the concrete area surrounding the facility.
One of the young men then proceeded to climb the fence and threw the turtle into the drained concrete swimming pool, which only contained water in the deep end.
That afternoon, with the help of the City of Cornwall Municipal Works department, the turtle was taken to the Ontario SPCA Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Branch and was examined.
It was found that the top part of the turtle’s shell was cracked from the head to the tail as well as the underside of the shell.
“The Ontario SPCA is urging anyone who may have information regarding who committed this act of animal cruelty to come forward and contact the society,” said Steve Toy, Senior Inspector. “Please call 310-SPCA or email cruelty@ospca.on.ca if you have any information which could be useful to this case.”
The individuals could face criminal charges of animal cruelty.
The turtle is receiving veterinary care and has been moved to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.
The incident took place Oct. 10 at about 10 a.m.
