Dog left in van

Michou, a handsome, grey, curly-haired, little poodle, spent 19 days in a van at a Vermont airport while his owner was vacationing. Pascal Bellon, the said owner from a charming little town in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, told authorities he did not know the dog was in the car.

His fine: $100. Authorities could not prove he wasn't telling the truth so he got off with a slap on the wrist.

Michou lost 50 percent of his weight over 19 days of starvation, dehydration, and freezing temperatures. There was an outpouring of both compassion for the dog and outrage with the fine against the owner.
I know humans are an imperfect species, but I wish we weren't quite so imperfect.


A sufficient fine? Where are those tough laws now (see previous post)?