On Friday, November 2, members of the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals interred the Whistler sled dogs at the BCSPCA pet cemetary on Partington Road, just off White Lake Road near Kaleden.
The formal ceremony was attended by dozens of animal lovers, many of whom wept openly during the proceedings, which included an introduction by Chief Executive Officer Craig Daniell, and dedications by Marylee Davis, BC SPCA President and Marcie Moriarty, Chief Prevention and Enforcement Officer.
Many of the those attending brought their own pets.
B.C. SPCA officials held the ceremony to bring closure after international condemnation of the April 2010 slaughter of animals belonging to Whistler-based Howling Dog Tours.
The killing sparked a massive SPCA investigation after it came to light the following year, ending with one Criminal Code charge laid in April 2011 against former Howling Dog manager, Bob Fawcett, who will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty in August to causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.
Anti-cruelty laws were also revised by the province to provide tough new protection for sled dogs, including fines of up to $75,000 and two years behind bars for violators.