VANCOUVER -- The owner of Captain, the German Shepherd found beaten and discarded in a dumpster in July, faces animal cruelty charges.

The Crown approved the charges against Brian Whitlock, 26, on Nov. 30 following a nearly five-month investigation by BC SPCA constables. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

The Vancouver man's two-year-old dog was found with serious bruising to its head and body after residents near Maple Street heard howls coming from a dumpster July 18.

Captain suffered extreme neurological and spinal damage, and would have been a quadriplegic, according the SPCA staff.

It was treated for the injuries, but Captain died from a heart attack the next day.

SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said pictures showing the animal lying helplessly in the dumpster "touched a nerve" with the community and her organization received messages from across North America.

"It is absolutely heartbreaking to think of the suffering that this dog experienced - it's beyond comprehension," she said.

Demonstrators marched outside Vancouver provincial court in August when Whitlock was set to appear before a judge on unrelated charges. He did not show up at that time and his lawyer appeared on his behalf, leaving protesters frustrated.