The Crown has stayed a charge of animal neglect against the Behchoko artist Archie Beaulieu because of the unlikelihood of getting a conviction, N.W.T. prosecutor Shannon Smallwood said.

The Dene artist was charged after the local government called in a Yellowknife veterinarian in September to examine his sled dogs because of concerns about their health and living conditions.

Vet Tom Pisz determined 34 of the sled dogs were so malnourished they had to be euthanized.

Smallwood said the Crown would have had to prove the neglect was "wilful" to get a conviction.

"Wilful means it's very close to intentional — it's not something that was involuntary or accidental, but it's very close to intentionally neglecting for the animals in the case," she said.

Beaulieu has consistently denied the animals were neglected, saying he has always taken good care of his dogs. He said a land dispute between himself and the local government was likely behind the initial investigation.

Beaulieu said the high-profile case has been hard on him and his family. He said he has had to go on welfare because he has been too distracted to paint.