By Thia James

Local man to be tried for alleged animal cruelty

Jun 3, 2014 | 4:55 PM

A Prince Albert area man facing animal cruelty charges related to the death of a dog in June 2013 will be going to trial.

Ryan Funk was not present in the courtroom on Tuesday. His lawyer entered not guilty pleas on a charge of causing unnecessary injury or suffering to an animal under the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as one Animal Protection Act violation, causing an animal to be in distress.

Funk’s case will go to a one-day trial on October 9 at the Prince Albert Provincial Court.

A year ago this month, the Prince Albert SPCA said someone reported a case of alleged animal cruelty, and that a dog had died. Its animal protection officers investigated and sent its findings to the RCMP. Funk was later charged.

Members of the SPCA filled part of the second row in the courtroom during the plea hearing.

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After hearing that Funk’s case would go to a fall trial, SPCA executive director Debbie Lehner issued the organization’s first comment on the case outside of the courthouse.

“We welcome an opportunity to go to trial”, she said.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames