A remarkable tale has emerged about how numerous Penelakut Island residents worked tirelessly to first locate and then save one-year-old German shepherd Hope.

Animal cruelty charges have been laid against Kevin Timothy of Penelakut Island, located off Vancouver Island, following a BC SPCA investigation. He鈥檚 due in court in Duncan on Dec. 17.

The incident goes back to early May when Penelakut residents conducted a frantic search for the dog, even into the wee hours of the morning.

鈥淲e had teams out searching for more than a week,鈥� pointed out Band Administrator Jim Chisholm.

Hope was eventually found around 2:30 a.m. by three people, who stayed with her, providing comfort and water while the authorities were contacted. RCMP officers arrived in their own boat while SPCA officials took a truck onto the first ferry to the scene.

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It was a true team effort on the part of so many people to get Hope off the island and into medical treatment.

鈥淚鈥檓 just totally proud to be part of it,鈥� said Chisholm.

To see something good come from a life-threatening situation was heartwarming for those involved.

Chisholm himself made sure the ferry back to Chemainus was held until Hope got on it.

鈥淧enelakut Tribe paid for all the vet bills for that dog,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e gave that dog the best care.

鈥淧eople on Penelakut went absolutely over the top to do everything we could in this situation. If we hadn鈥檛 done that, that dog would probably have been euthanized.

鈥淭his is a great place and a great community - we care about animals.鈥�

Chisholm pointed out strict measures are followed by the community鈥檚 own dog bylaw officer.

鈥淭here isn鈥檛 anything more our community members and leadership could have done,鈥� said Chisholm. 鈥淭his one, unfortunately, to nobody鈥檚 fault, we did everything we could. This dog鈥檚 alive because of the efforts of this band.鈥�

Another dog belonging to the accused was seized. He鈥檚 also been banned from ever being in the care or custody of another animal on Penelakut territory.

鈥淣o community is happier than seeing this guy brought to justice than we are,鈥� said Chisholm. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all disgusted by what one individual did.鈥�

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