After suffering devastating abuse and ultimately dying from his injuries, a donkey named Toby — who was tied to a truck and dragged down a road for several kilometers in Dominica — is now at the center of a pivotal court case seeking accountability for the cruelty he endured.
With the help of Lady Freethinker and our generous supporters, local organization Saint Nicholas Animal Rescue (SNAR) was able to hire a lawyer to pressure authorities who were reportedly hesitant to bring charges.
As a result, the individual accused of causing Toby’s suffering is now facing charges of animal abuse and neglect.
“It may seem like a small thing anywhere else in the world but for us after so much we have seen over the years, this is the first time to get the case to court,” SNAR’s Founder and Director, Dr. Golnaz Naderkhani, said.
Rescuers found Toby in a grim state. The flesh on one of his limbs had been scraped down to the bone, and a veterinary report revealed numerous fractures, deep lacerations, torn muscles, hematomas, and significant blood loss.
To assist with the cost of Toby’s medical care, Lady Freethinker provided emergency funding to SNAR, which obtained guidance from a donkey specialist in Canada and cared for Toby for almost seven weeks before he died.
Despite his tragic ending, Toby’s legacy may continue to live on by inspiring stronger protections for animals and greater accountability for abusers in Dominica.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to SNAR for their efforts to save Toby and seek justice on his behalf, and to our supporters for helping make it possible.
If you haven’t already, please sign our petition calling on Dominica’s officials to treat this case with the seriousness it deserves.
