St. Marys woman charged with harassment over Facebook posts regarding dogs in Guelph

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A woman from St. Marys is facing a harassment charge after the Guelph Police Service said she made a series of Facebook posts targeting a couple from Guelph.

Police began receiving calls from concerned residents in early January. The callers said they had seen posts on Facebook and were worried about the welfare of two dogs at a home in the south-end of Guelph. The posts claimed the dogs were being left outside in the cold and identified the dogs’ owners. Police said the poster encouraged people to visit the home and boycott the owner’s small business.

The woman who made the posts also offered to share the victims’ address with anyone who wanted it.

The dog’s owners told police of several instances where people showed up at their home and yelled at them. The owners said some people tried to get into their backyard and a drone was flown over their house and took pictures.

Officials from Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) visited the homes several times. PAWS said they were satisfied that the dogs were being properly cared for and were not in danger.

Members of the Guelph Police Service spoke to the woman who had made the Facebook posts, but they said she refused to take them down.

On Tuesday, a 57-year-old woman from St. Marys was charged with harassing communications.

She is due in court in February.