A Deer Lake man is set to have a trial on charges of causing unnecessary pain to an animal in provincial court in Corner Brook next year.

William Bennett, 46, was charged in provincial court in Corner Brook Sept. 3. The alleged offence falls under Section 446 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, which deals with the willful neglect of animals.

His lawyer, Jim Goudie, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in provincial court in Corner Brook Tuesday afternoon.

A full day was set aside for the trial Feb. 4, 2010.

A conviction for such an offence, according to the Criminal Code of Canada, could range from a fine of no more than $5,000 and/or a prison term of no more than six months or a prison term not exceeding two years.

As reported in the Sept. 3 edition of The Western Star, a young dog was recently turned over to the Bay of Islands SPCA after it was found with a nylon rope it had been tethered with for about a year nearly grown into its neck.