Robert Fawcett will spend the next three years under probation and not serve any jail time for his part in the killing of 54 sled dogs two years ago.
Judge Steven Merrick agreed with submissions from both the Crown and defence that did not recommend jail time as a sentence, noting Fawcett has suffered already due to the overwhelming public outcry to his actions.
"There is no question that the public denunciation and public response is an overwhelming mitigating factor in this case," said the judge, noting the Fawcett has received death threats, became a public pariah and suffered a nervous breakdown.
During probation, Merrick ordered that Fawcett not be allowed to have involvement with euthanizing animals or the sled dog industry. If he takes part in any business or commercial enterprise that involves animals while on probation he has to notify the owner of that business and show them the probation order.
The judge also imposed a $1,500 fine, with a $225 victim fine surcharge, 200 hours of community service and 10 year firearms ban.
Fawcett was given an opportunity to address the court, but did not.
Merrick had some harsh words for Fawcett while handing down his sentence at the North Vancouver Provincial Courthouse, which stayed open later to allow the proceedings to be completed.
"Failure to stop the cull when it got out of hand is an aggravating feature, Mr. Fawcett ought to have anticipated the possibility of the horrific circumstances that could result," said the judge, noting that he killed the sled dogs in front of each other. "The dogs depended on him. To a lay person like myself who is not medically trained and those of us who have had to take our pets to the veterinarian for euthanizing, it is beyond comprehension."
Fawcett was charged after the B.C. SPCA undertook a $250,000 investigation into the killing of sled dogs after a WorkSafeBC claim by Fawcett for post traumatic stress disorder was leaked to the media.
The SPCA exhumed the remains of 54 dogs from a mass grave in the Soo Valley. At the time he culled the dogs Fawcett was employed by Howling Dog Tours, which had taken a financial hit after the 2010 Winter Olympics. Outdoor Adventures Whistler, Howling Dog's parent company, transferred the remaining dogs and other assets to the newly formed Sled Dog Foundation at the end of last year.
