On January 27, 2011, ‘Garlic’ was stolen from his owners vehicle which was parked outside her employers building.
In a recent article published in the Yellowknifer, NNSL, details taken from the necropsy performed by the Great Slave Medical Hospital revealed just how this tiny one and half year old Chinese Pug died.
It is likely that Garlic died due to collapsed lungs from the blow to his small chest. According to necropsy results it is suspected that the multiple stab wounds inflicted upon Garlic to his chest and rectum area may have been delivered prior to the blow to his chest and that these stab wounds were not enough to have caused his death.
Garlic’s mutilated and beaten body was found in a downtown Yellowknife dumpster approximately an hour after Ms. Baron discovered her car had been broken into and Garlic was missing.
Lloyd Thrasher, a 23 yer old Yellowknife Musician has been charged and remains in custody. Mr. Thrasher was known to Ms. Baron as he often participated in the jam sessions held weekly in the restaurant where Ms. Baron worked, Twist Resto-Lounge. Mr. Thrasher has since been banned from this establishment.
As reported by the Yellowknifer, Thrasher’s lawyer, a Mr. Paul Falvo has removed himself from this case, reason stated being a conflict of interest.
The current NT Dog Act hold a $25.00 fine or maximum of 30 days in jail…..totally ridiculous.
Should Lloyd Thrasher be indicted under the Federal Criminal Code he could face up to five years in prison, if charged and convicted, he could be sentenced via summary conviction and be facing a $10,000 fine and 18 months in prison.
Described as an up and coming young musician Lloyd Thrasher’s profile can be found on Facebook along with the fan club which was started supporting his music. He also has numerous YouTube videos showing him performing at Yellowknife’s Folk on the Rocks, a concert which has been put on yearly as well as performing in other locales in the NT.
This most heinous and barbaric act of violence towards an animal in the Northwest Territories is just one of so many.
A great deal of information has been provided to the Territorial Government on the direct Link between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence. This well researched and studied Link is undeniable and is recognized as a syndrome, similar to OCD and others. The New York times published a five part article on this in 2010:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13dogfighting-t.html
A report published by the Federal Department of Justice in 2007 which compared the Northwest Territories to the rest of Canada showed that 70% of adults held in custody had been sentenced for violent crimes. It must be remembered that the total population across the NT is less than some of the large major cities in Canada. The reports were on a per capita basis.
It has also been reported via media that there has been a 43% increase in violent crime in the NT since 2007.
“Understanding Family Violence and Sexual Assault in the Territories, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples”
Statistics Canada also published their own report, which can be found on their government website.
Already given the dubious distinction of being the “Best Place to Abuse Animals” by the Animal Legal Defense Fund two years in a row, the NT is now seen as:
18 Oct 2010 … Canada’s most violent region. Talk to people living in the North about why the violent crime rate is so high compared to the rest of Canada …
http://www.gateway.i2sf.org/c2_blog/…/canadas-most-violent-region/
This week, Kam Lake MLA David Ramsay, bravely called for a review of the North Slave Correctional Centers program for inmates.
So, logically is it safe to say that there is a definite problem? A problem in how violent repeat and new offenders are sentenced and handled? Unless one is blind to the statistics, and to the number of incidents, cases and convictions reported, as well as the lenient sentences handed out, something is not working very well.
Unfortunately the programs already in place such as anger management and drug/alcohol rehab appear to not be as effective and successful as had been hoped. Certainly those individuals convicted of repeat violent crimes, need far greater in-depth treatment than can be provided at the facilities located in the Northwest Territories. Many of these offenders themselves carry the emotional and psychological scars of violent abuse which was inflicted upon them during their own lives. The cycle repeats itself over and over again.
The need for improved and expanded Women’s Shelters, revamped programs, up-to-date effective medical treatment, and sentencing of repeat violent offenders is somewhat evident.
“Garlic” paid with his life. Ms. Baron, her family and friends, are also victims of this brutal crime.
Well I think its crule to leave a small puppy in a cold frozen car for over an hour and a half, if ms baron really loved the dog the way that she has so fully shown, mabye she’ll justy leave the next dog in her small apartment all alone and completely un supervised
mabye she could convice her butcher /cook husband to stop selling dead animals to the people of yellowknife.
and another thing .if there was funding for real artist and real musicians, as specially young talented aboriginal artists, mabye Lloyd Thrasher wouldnt go running through the cold stealing coffee change to eat.
or mabye hell even be able to stand somewhere warm to sell his music “which is relly very good”, instead of being forced out into the 40 below temperatures by rude shop ownwers and people who havent lived the same kind of life.
Lloyd Thrasher may be insane and a dog killer, but we cant deny the talent and the effort that he has put into his art.
One is certainly entitled to one’s opinion of course, however the horrors inflicted upon Garlic are unforgivable, regardless what excuse can be made for Mr. Thrasher. Being a talented artist does not excuse this act of gross violence against a purely innocent small dog. Further, to quantify your description of life on the streets in Yellowknife….point taken….however is it not the complete failure of the current system that is in place, lack of affordable housing, lack of a mental health facility, lack of very real and successful rehab centers that is to blame?
It is not un-reasonable to believe that one may commute within or to visit Yellowknife and feel safe, not threatened, however that is not the case…as the frequent RCMP reports published in local newspapers can attest to.
There is a very real problem across the NWT period, which needs to be addressed by the current GNWT Ministers, that being the living standards, provision of excellent (not just adequate) health care, affordable housing, and the establishment of fully equipped women’s and men’s shelters, rehabilitation centers and a mental health center. Drug and alcohol abuse is the primary factor which needs to be addressed in a pro-active manner. There is a direct link between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence and unfortunately the historical record of attitude and treatment towards animals across the North, not just the NWT, as well as the NWT having highest rate of Violent Crime per Capita than elsewhere in Canada makes a very clear statement. The Federal Dept of Justice published their own report on this a number of years ago.
Perhaps, as well as showing your sympathies to Mr. Thrasher, which you are rightly entitled to do, you may wish to consider how you yourself can contribute in a positive fashion to help make positive changes that will benefit people such as he. Work towards getting very real mental health care, work towards affordable housing. Silence accomplishes nothing and you will be surprised just how loud even one voice can really be.
http://www.mix100.ca/news/news/Local/12/02/7/YK-man-facing-restraining-order-warrant-issued-for-arrest
Most unfortunate that Mr. Thrasher is once again in the news.
YK man facing restraining order, warrant issued for arrest
February 7, 2012
Neither Talent or extreme temperatures excuse cruelty For the woman who seemed to feel it necessary to give accolades to this man for his talent who so brutally killed this little dog,,,, get a life Where are your priorities ? We all know the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence is proven one and It will not surprise any of us when we hear Thrasher has moved on to hurt someone else or another animal
Every day across Canada thousand of pet owners leave their precious pets in their homes while they work and or in their car while they stop for a few minutes to complete errands and If this had happened ANY WHERE ELSE IN CANADA Thrasher would be in jail and get psychiatric counselling
Regardless of anyone;s life circumstances in Canada we are not a third world country and brutal cruelty inflicted on a tiny dog is just that and inexcusable
Rest in please little Garlic we love you We know how you must have suffered To Garlic’s; mama we are so sorry for the brutal killing of your beloved little dog
Nero was a talented musician and look at the eternal damage he did….talent cannot excuse callousness of heart….