North Okanagan man who gave his dog ivermectin charged with animal cruelty

A North Okanagan man whose dog overdosed on ivermectin has been charged with animal abuse.

Armstrong resident Romeo Theodore Joseph Leduc, born 1957, was scheduled to appear in a Vernon courtroom last week charged with causing an animal to continue to be in distress.

The charge comes almost three years after the BC SPCA seized Leduc’s dog, Rufus, after he refused to hospitalize the dog and instead kept giving it ivermectin.

The animal anti-parasitic drug ivermectin was making Rufus worse, and not better. The drug became known during the pandemic and was said to be a treatment for COVID-19 contrary to medical advice.

After Rufus was seized by the BC SPCA, Leduc appealed to get the dog back, but failed.

According to the BC Farm Industry Review Board appeal decision from late 2022, the issue started when Leduc took his dog to the vet because it was vomiting and not moving properly.

The vet told the senior the dog needed immediate medical attention and hospitalization, but Leduc didn’t act.

The vet released Rufus to his owner on an “Against Veterinarian Medical Advice” basis.

The vet then called the SPCA.

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When they arrived at Leduc’s property, SPCA officers found Rufus walking with a wobble, having tremors and appearing disoriented.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian hospital for lifesaving, emergency medical treatment for ivermectin toxicity.

During the appeal, Leduc’s sister, Toni Leduc, said the dog had eaten grapes which had fermented in the dog’s stomach which is why it was walking with a wobble. 

She then argued the dog would heal naturally and they wouldn’t take him to a vet. She said they didn’t believe in chemical interventions.

In arguing to get Rufus back she then made a bizarre argument about Canada being a corporation and that laws only apply to employees of that corporation.

She also accused the vet of fabricating medical notes, without any evidence.

The Review Board ruled it wasn’t safe for Rufus to be returned to Leduc, and ordered the senior to pay $,1800 in costs to cover vet’s bills.

Leduc is next scheduled to appear in court in June.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.