August 11, 2009, VANCOUVER – The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) is hoping that a $1,000 reward being offered through their Victims of Cruelty Program will help to bring to justice the man depicted in a Youtube video smashing a mud shark against the deck of a fishing boat and then hurling it overboard somewhere off the BC coast. The reward is for information resulting in the conviction of those responsible for harming the shark which the man in the video describes as a “mud shark beat down”.

The Humane Society of Canada believes that people should be concerned because there is a connection between cruelty to animals and people.

The Humane Society of Canada’s Chairman & CEO Michael O’Sullivan, has harsh words for the man, calling him a “loudmouthed coward”. It is no wonder that public reaction to the tape has been one of disgust and anger. Government surveys have repeatedly found that more than 95% of Canadians support the protection and not the killing of wildlife, and that less than 5% of Canadians are involved in the recreational killing of wildlife,” he said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Department of Fisheries and Oceans tip-line at 1-604-666-3500 or The Humane Society of Canada at 1-800-641-KIND (5463) or www.humanesociety.com.

O’Sullivan says that with the growing use of the internet to display such cruelty, the animal charity has also established a Cybercruelty Program to monitor and investigate such reports. Other examples have included three Saskatchewan men charged with shooting ducks and ducklings and posting the video on YouTube (David and James Fraser where each fined $5000, and Jeremy Rowlands was fined $6000 and all had to turn over their rifles); and so called 'crush videos' showing live animals killed for amusement on tape, and 'point-and-shoot' internet hunting of live animals in Texas (which is now illegal in some but not all US states). The organization has also been involved in following up on internet sites used by wildlife smugglers and traders. The killing of animals in performances and in films has also taken place in Canada.

Depending on the nature of the cruelty and where it was committed, upon conviction offenders can face fines, imprisonment, sanctions, forfeiture of property, be prohibited from owning or working with animals, and may receive a criminal record that would make it difficult for them to travel to other countries.

Anyone who would like to donate to The Humane Society of Canada’s Victims of Cruelty Reward Program to help solve crimes against animals and nature can contact the organization at 1-800-641-5463 or through their website at www.humanesociety.com.

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