Two people who abused their dogs in the backyard of their home in Bradford have been given suspended prison sentences and disqualified from keeping animals for 12 years.
Honey, a one-year-old Golden Labrador, and a six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier called Lilu, were heard by witnesses yelping ‘several times a week’ after they were kicked, struck with a broom and had objects thrown at them.
Video footage passed to the RSPCA showed both dogs displaying submissive and fearful body language and Lilu being picked up by her neck.
At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday 17 July, Martin Butters and Kristine Viksnina were given eight-week custodial sentences – suspended for 12 months – following an investigation and prosecution by the animal welfare charity.
The pair, who had both pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at earlier hearings, have also been disqualified from keeping all animals for 12 years.
Bradford Magistrates Court heard how RSPCA Inspector Demi Hogby had gone to the defendants’ house with the police on 3 April last year after the charity had been sent several videos – dating from November 2022 to March 2023 – from witnesses who were concerned about the dogs’ welfare. The footage was also seen by a vet who confirmed Honey and Lilu were suffering and needed to be removed.
In her written evidence to the court Inspector Hogby said: “I said (to Viksnina) that we had been sent a number of videos of the dogs being beaten which had been assessed by a vet who had then advised that both dogs were suffering and therefore they would need to be removed from the address. I observed the dogs in the yard. Both of them were very nervous, particularly around the male police officer who was in attendance.”
The court heard that Honey and Lilu had a plastic shelter in the backyard but lived outside in all weathers, from very early in the morning until late at night. In several videos an item could be seen blocking the door of the shelter and preventing the dogs from going inside. Snow and ice was visible on two occasions and it was unclear how long the dogs remained in the yard with no access to shelter.
Footage from November 2022 showed a firework being ignited and burning in the yard, although no dogs could be seen. On Boxing Day 2022 Butters was then seen kicking Honey who yelped and walked away limping. On another occasion she was chased by Viksnina and kicked.
In February 2023 a refuse bin was swung at Honey twice, with the dogs being unable to access their kennel at the time. In March 2023 they were seen attempting to run away from Viksnina who again kicked the Labrador, causing her to yelp. She then picked up Lilu with one hand by her neck.
Another clip from March 2023 showed an unknown object being hurled into the yard, hitting Honey on her rear end. Butters was also seen swinging at the dogs with a long handled sweeping brush before one of them cries out. In another video an object similar to a broom handle was seen flying across the yard and over the top of one of the animals.
The videos showed both dogs displaying body language consistent with fear, making attempts to escape and hide with their tails between their legs, the court was told.
In his written statement to the court, the vet who viewed the footage said: “A number of videos indicate that both dogs were handled inappropriately on a number of occasions and were subjected to physical abuse. Martin Butters and Kristine Viksnina indicated that their behaviour towards the dogs, Honey in particular, was as a consequence of unwanted behavioural traits such as eating faeces and chewing up bedding.
“I have not had sight of any documents that indicate veterinary or professional dog behaviour/training advice was sought by them in an attempt to appropriately address those behavioural issues.
“The majority of the physical abuse appears to have been directed towards Honey. However this appears to have often taken place in the presence of Lilu who also showed body language consistent with experiencing fear at those times.
“In my opinion they have been caused to suffer on a number of occasions as a consequence of inappropriate handling by the person(s) responsible for their welfare. Suffering will have been experienced by these two dogs via mechanisms of fear and distress in addition to physical pain on occasion that they were subjected to physical abuse for variable periods of time.”
The court heard that after Butters had been interviewed by the RSPCA about the footage he went into the yard and picked up the plastic broom and a small piece of wood. He handed them to Inspector Hogby and said: “See they aren’t heavy so they wouldn’t have hurt her.”
In mitigation Viksnina, now of Fenby Avenue in Bradford, blamed her behaviour on Butters and said she had owned dogs for over eight years without any problems. Butters, who represented himself in court, apologised for his actions but said he couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.
Both defendants were also given a suspended sentence order, to include 100 hours of unpaid work and a ten-week electronically controlled curfew between the hours of 7pm and 4.30am. They were also told to pay costs of £243 and a victim surcharge of £157. The court imposed a deprivation order on Honey and Lilu, who have been in the care of the RSPCA’s Doncaster, Rotherham & District Branch. Both dogs are doing well and will now be found loving new homes.
Speaking after the case Inspector Hogby said: “We’re grateful to those who reported their concerns for Honey and Lilu to us. Both dogs were subjected to unacceptable physical and emotional abuse and we’re pleased to have been able to help ensure they now have much brighter futures ahead of them.”
