An Ottawa man who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges after starving his Great Dane has been sentenced to two years probation and a lifetime ban on owning animals.

Jason Woodruff  was handed the sentence for permitting distress to Charlie, his five-year-old Great Dane. He also faces random inspections to ensure he has no animals in his care, 100 hours of community service, and must pay more than $9,000 to the Humane Society to cover the cost of caring for Charlie as he recovered.

Woodruff sold Charlie over Kijiji in January.  The man who purchased the dog immediately brought him to the Ottawa Human Society after seeing his sickly thin state.

A dog of Charlie’s size should weigh around 120 pounds. Charlie was a mere 53 pounds when he was taken to the OHS.

“There were clearly mental health issues in this case and they were introduced in court,” said OHS Executive Director Bruce Roney in a press release.  “We realize that jail is not the only means of achieving justice and keeping animals safe.”

The Humane Society placed the canine in foster care for six months to help him recover. 

Charlie was adopted in July and had doubled his weight by that time.