Phillip Millar, the lawyer for the man whose animal abuse charges have been withdrawn in the case of 'Joe the cat,' is asking that cooler heads prevail after the decision.
Charges against Christopher Hammond were dropped Monday after the Crown said it did not have sufficient grounds to proceed.
Hammond had been charged in connection Joe the cat, who was found on the side of the road in Brights Grove in Feb. 2014. He had been shot in the head with a pellet gun 17 times.
According to Millar, the only evidence was testimony from Hammond's ex- girlfriend, who said the accused told her he did it. In addition, he says his client didn't own a pellet gun.
Millar says since the charges were laid he and his client have had their lives threatened and the law firm's computers were hacked. He is calling for reason.
The Sarnia and District Humane Society said in a statement that they are, "disappointed in hearing the news," but "understand and acknowledge the reasons behind the decision."
Still, they add that there has been a silver lining in the situation.
"Joe's story shone a very bright light on the growing problem of animal cruelty in our community...Because of his story, a lot of good has come and a lot of animals have been saved."
Joe has since recovered and been adopted, but lost an eye in the ordeal.
