Rupert James Wilson, the man accused of the mistreatment of Molly, entered a guilty plea to charges in Port Hardy courtroom Tuesday.
Molly, a Shepard-cross, made headlines across the province last year after being rescued from what the BC SPCA described as one of the most horrific animal cruelty cases it had seen.
RCMP officers discovered the then-18 month Molly tied up and emaciated on a residence in Fort Rupert with a chain embedded in her neck. Photos of the animal were quickly shared across social media as the case gathered attention.
After treatment at the local veterinarian office Molly was transferred to Nanaimo for longer-term recovery and has made remarkable progress. She has been adopted by one of the responding RCMP officers.
Defence counsel James Hormoth spoke for his client and indicated the guilty plea. The Honourable Judge Ronald Lamperson asked that Wilson confirm he was pleading guilty to owning and causing unnecessary suffering to the animal to which Wilson replied with a nod.
Hormoth indicated his intention to seek a Gladue report — a form of pre-sentencing report — and estimated the process could take six to eight weeks.
The case was referred to a Judicial Case Manager to fix a date.