Man jailed for horrific abuse of dog in Nanoose Bay

Giroux will serve three years probation after his jail tenure and can’t be in the presence of pets with the exception of his parents’ cats for 25 years.

An agreed statement of facts heard Giroux caused significant injuries to the 11-year-old male purebred Belgian Malinois.

The dog required more than $9,000 worth of emergency vet care after the torturous assault caused substantial bruising to its abdomen, elbow, internal organs and genitals.

Audio of the graphic encounter was captured on a high quality security surveillance system at the house.

Disturbing audio played in court involved the dog intermittently crying in pain. Giroux wasn’t heard saying anything while abusing the animal.

Giroux declined to speak outside provincial court in Nanaimo. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Crown prosecutor John Blackman said a neighbour, who heard the dog crying out in distress on Dec. 23, described the sounds as “horrible, really loud, not like a regular dog cry.”

The upset neighbour knocked on the door and Giroux said the dog was fine and only crying out for help because he went outside for a smoke. His explanation was contradicted by the video.

Security footage showed the dog was limping while Giroux took it outside to pee the next morning.

Giroux then took the dog to his parents house the afternoon of Dec. 24. His mother noted the dog was having a hard time breathing and couldn’t get up.

She told her son to take the dog to an emergency vet clinic in Nanaimo.

The dog was in critical condition, unresponsive and in significant pain when brought in for care.

Giroux told a doctor at the vet clinic he wasn’t aware the dog sustained injuries and that it suddenly collapsed.

The animal doctor reported Giroux presented as extremely agitated, struggled to concentrate and voiced concerns about planned tests to provide more details about the dog’s injuries.

The doctor estimated the badly wounded animal would have died if it was brought in 20 to 40 minutes later.

Multiple images of the injured dog taken at the vet clinic were submitted to the judge.

A psychological report submitted to court said Giroux claimed to be feeling unhappy with himself and the abuse happened impulsively.

He claimed he was “not being myself, being unhappy, losing it, thinking I deserved to be hurt or something…I blame smoking weed 100 per cent. If I’m the way I am now I never would have done it.”

Giroux also claimed he was in the midst of a psychotic break and wasn’t in control of his thoughts and actions.

Prosecutor Blackman said Giroux appeared to minimize his behaviour and had no self awareness of what he did.

“Your Honour has had many cases before you that have had cannabis dependency, various negative self opinions of themselves and they do not do the behaviour that your Honour has seen here,” Blackman said.

A pre-sentence report said Giroux abused the dog to cause pain and not for a sexual purpose. He admitted to digitally penetrating the animal.

Victim impact statements from the dog owners outlined the profound emotional toll the ordeal had on them, including a destroyed 2019 Christmas.

The dog improved after emergency Christmas day surgery and was returned back to its owners a week and a half later.

While issuing his judgment Tuesday afternoon, judge Harvey said aggravating factors included the severe abuse the dog faced, Giroux’s position of trust and his presentation of the facts at the vet clinic.

“I can only imagine the terror and the fear his owners must have felt while away out of the country while they trusted the accused to look after their dog,” judge Harvey said.

A psychiatrist determined Giroux poses a moderate to high risk of family and intimate violence and a low to moderate risk for further harming animals or child physical abuse or neglect.

Defence lawyer Chris Churchill told court Giroux has taken responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions.

Churchill said there are complicated reasons for Giroux’s behaviour, referencing underlying mental health issues and overall unhappiness with himself.

“He acknowledges that the harm occurs in the context of negative mood, disparaging thoughts about himself and hopeless thoughts about the future.”

Churchill said Giroux has made strides by addressing his marijuana misuse and ongoing counselling.

Giroux declined to address the court during sentencing.

He had no prior criminal record.

Giroux was arrested on January 14, 2020 and he pleaded guilty earlier this year. Charges of bestiality and killing or injuring an animal were dropped.

He paid back $10,193 in restitution to the victims, representing their vet bill and the $500 he was owed for house sitting.

Giroux is a former junior hockey goaltender with his hometown Oceanside Generals. He also played briefly with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Man jailed for horrific abuse of dog in Nanoose Bay

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