A man who allegedly stuffed a sealed bag containing a three month-old puppy into a garbage bin outside a North York mall has been charged after surrendering to police.
Investigators say that on July 11 at about 3:40 p.m., a man was seen on surveillance camera footage at Lawrence Square shopping centre, near Lawrence Avenue West and Allen Road.
He was observed walking towards the northwest doors of the mall as he discarded a black plastic bag in a garbage bin.
He then made several stops at stores inside the mall before exiting from the same doors on the northwest side of the building.
He was last seen walking on Dane Avenue.
A few moments later, police allege a concerned citizen heard yelps coming from the garbage bin where the suspect had tossed the bag.
He then took the sealed bag out of the bin and tore it open, revealing a puppy that was trapped inside.
He immediately took the puppy to a nearby vet for assessment. Another passerby who happened to be a Toronto Animal Services employee saw the puppy and contacted police.
On Thursday, police say a man turned himself in to police at 32 Division and was arrested.
He was identified as 35-year-old Quang (Andrew) Tieu of Toronto.
Police say Animal Services conducted a number of search warrants and seized 23 adult dogs and 14 puppies from locations associated with the accused.
All animals seized are now in the care of Animal Services, police say.
Animal Services spokesperson Tammy Robinson said the animals are being assessed by a vet and all of them will be bathed, vaccinated and treated for fleas and ear mites.
Tieu has been charged with one count of willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal and one count of willful neglect of an animal.
He is scheduled to appear in court at 1000 Finch Avenue West on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.
The dumped puppy has since been adopted, police say.
