A sentencing hearing was held today for an Ottawa man who pleaded guilty in a case of animal cruelty that caused outrage across the city and beyond.
Breezy the dog was viciously beaten with a rake and shovel and left near death in a dumpster in October.
Steven Helfer, 24, pleaded guilty in December to animal cruelty, criminal harassment and two counts of assault for the attack on the Labrador-shepherd cross.
The maximum penalty for this type of crime is five years in prison. Helfer has been in custody for 6 months so far. The crown is asking that he be sentenced to an addional 4 years, the defence is suggesting he get another 3 months
Breezy spent five months recovering at the Ottawa Humane Society and was adopted by a family in March.
The judge will sentence Helfer on June 19th.
