Man fined over £6,500 for refusing to take injured dogs to the vet
In the United Kingdom, a court sentenced a man to a suspended prison term for leaving three dogs without proper veterinary care. According to veterinarians, one of the animals suffered severe pain for at least two weeks due to serious injuries, reports Walesonline.
27-year-old Rhys Ebenezer from Llangyeto near Tregaron (Ceredigion County, Wales) was sentenced to 18 weeks suspended imprisonment with a two-year probation period for animal cruelty. The decision was made on May 21 by the Llanelli Magistrates' Court.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the man was banned from keeping any animals for ten years. The court also ordered him to pay court costs amounting to £6,410.92 and an additional victim surcharge of £154.
Previously, Ebenezer pleaded guilty to four counts of violating the Animal Welfare Act related to causing unnecessary suffering and neglecting the care of three dogs.
The court also imposed a six-month curfew at home during specified hours, required him to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and banned him from traveling abroad for one year.
The dogs were injured and emaciated
Inspectors from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) arrived at the Llangyeto residence on September 29 last year following reports of injured dogs kept in kennels.
Upon arrival, inspectors Holly Brown and Darril Thomas were immediately concerned about the condition of two dogs — four-year-old Charlie and two-year-old Twig, both Patterdale Terriers.
In her testimony, Holly Brown noted that Twig was curled up in her bed and appeared very lethargic.
She had a large blue bandage on her front right paw.
The inspector was told that the dog was injured during a fight with another dog named Champ. According to the owner, the animals bit each other through the kennel bars.
Regarding Charlie, the inspector reported that he was very thin. His ribs were clearly visible, and his abdomen was deeply sunken.
The dog's body was also covered with numerous scars and wounds at various stages of healing. Some injuries appeared fresh, while others had already healed.
Particular concern was raised by wounds on the inner side of the front and rear left paws.
The veterinarian who examined Charlie concluded that the injuries were of different ages: some were about two weeks old, others approximately a week. In his opinion, the nature of the injuries did not correspond with the owner's explanation that they occurred during rat hunting.
One of the dogs was euthanized after severe injuries
The man told inspectors that the scars on the dogs' bodies appeared during rodent hunting.
He also reported that Champ, the dog he took to the vet, was euthanized and then buried on his land.
Inspector Darril Thomas said that Ebenezer led them to a remote field on a hilltop where the animal's remains were exhumed using an excavator.
During the examination of the dog's body, inspectors found severe damage to the lower jaw on both sides, as well as the absence of part of the nose.
The veterinary surgeon who examined Champ's body recorded serious injuries to the chin, nostrils, and ear.
According to his conclusion, the severe chin injury occurred at least two weeks before the dog's euthanasia and caused the animal "chronic pain and discomfort" throughout that time.
In his findings, the veterinarian stated: "In my professional opinion, all three dogs — Twig, Charlie, and Champ — suffered as a result of the injuries sustained."
These circumstances formed the basis for holding the animal owner accountable for cruelty.
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