Animal activists on Thursday again descended on the court appearance of Brian Whitlock, the owner of a German Shepherd found fatally wounded in a Vancouver dumpster, to rally against animal abuse.

In an unrelated April incident where he was charged with criminal harassment, Whitlock was scheduled to appear in the morning at Vancouver Provincial Court.

Captain, the two-year-old canine, died July 19, the day after he was found in the garbage behind his owner's Kitsilano apartment.

BC SPCA has recommended an animal cruelty charge against the dog's owner, but it's yet to be approved by Crown.

Dog owner Laurie Holiday-Smith, one of several dozen marching in protest, said regardless of what happened to Captain, Whitlock - identified in court documents as Captain's owner - needs to take responsibility.

"It's like having a child. It's like being a guardian of something that's helpless. You have to be responsible to it," she said.

"The fact that he was tossed away like a piece of garbage is the fact that hurts me the most."

Defence lawyer Tony Paisana appeared on Whitlock's behalf for the unrelated criminal harassment charge. He urged protestors to be "patient" and wait for the full story.

"Generally, the public has a right to assemble outside the courtroom and make their issues known. We just hope that the public also recognizes Mr. Whitlock's constitutional right to be presumed innocent," he said.

"Mr. Whitlock hasn't even been charged with the offences arising from the investigation. It's a bit premature.