'Really disgusting': Video captures man tampering with dog water bowl in Toronto
Dog owners in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood are being advised to be cautious, after a man was spotted spraying an unknown substance into a public dog water bowl over the weekend.
“To want to harm dogs, in particular, to me is quite concerning and disturbing,” Michael Catafalmo told CTV News Toronto.
Catafalmo is the manager at SPIRITLEAF Cannabis on Queen Street East. The store’s surveillance video shows a man, in a black and white hooded coat, walk by the dispensary around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. About ten seconds later he returns carrying something in his hands. You then see the man unwrap the object and appear to spritz a substance into a dog water bowl located on the store’s front step.
“It’s really disgusting behaviour. I can’t believe someone would stoop that low to harm our dog community,” said area resident Ryan, who owns a Rottweiler named Molly.
Shortly after the man walks away, you can see a woman with a dog approach the store, but she veers away from the water bowl. She’s just been warned by a witness who saw what happened. That witness next alerts store staff.
“We acted quickly and just dumped the water, first instinct, and then contacted the police,” says Catafalmo.
The substance in the bowl was never actually analyzed, so police don’t know what — if anything — the water was laced with. Nonetheless, the incident is upsetting for area dog owners.
“It’s obviously trying to be hurtful to the dogs, and we love our dogs, especially in this community. Most of the businesses are really dog friendly,” said Claire, owner of a small black dog named Maple.
Angela, who owns two dogs, meanwhile, added: “Animals don’t do anything except want to be loved. For someone to want to do that just means that they’re very insensitive, uncaring.”
Police from 55 division are now investigating. Store employees describe the suspect as a white male between 35 and 45 years of age, five-foot-eight-inches to five-foot-11-inches, weighing between 170 and 200lbs, with a light beard and moustache.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.