A former Calgary groomer who beat animals left in her care is facing a stiff fine and a prohibition from working with animals for 10 years.
Mariko Dormer was charged after a coworker took video showing her abusing a dog she was grooming.
She pleaded guilty to a charge under the Animal Protection Act.
On Tuesday, Dormer was slapped with a $4,000 fine and a 10 year prohibition from working with animals.
The maximum fine she could have faced was $20,000.
She is also to serve one year of probation and has been ordered to take anger management courses.
Animal rights groups say that Dormer got off lightly.
“I just feel she totally got away with it. $4,000 fine, one year probation and she’s allowed to keep the animals she has. It’s ridiculous,” says animal activist Heather Anderson.
Crown prosecutors say that their aim was to make sure Dormer doesn’t work with animals ever again. “It is alarming that there are individuals out there who don’t have the disposition to work with animals, but still do,” says Crown lawyer Gordon Haight.
Dorner was charged criminally, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
