A man who punched his dog with such force that he injured his hand and went to hospital has been jailed and banned from keeping animals for the rest of his life.
Edward Casey was caught on camera physically and verbally abusing Staffordshire Bull Terrier Patch on two occasions following the attacks at Marshall Way in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, in June last year.
Casey has now been sent to prison for 26 weeks following a sentencing hearing at Derby Magistrates’ Court on 22 May. He had admitted three charges contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at an earlier hearing, including one of breaching a lifetime ban on keeping all animals previously imposed by Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 14 April 2015.
The court heard how the 38-year-old was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the animal welfare charity was sent two videos of Casey abusing Patch, who has since been rehomed by the charity’s Block Fen Animal Centre.
The upsetting footage on 22 June last year showed Casey coming into the lounge of the property and verbally reprimanded the dog before kicking him under the chin with his left foot and immediately punching him with his right hand. This appeared to have been done with such force that Casey was left wincing and holding his hand.
The RSPCA was told by the person who reported the incidents that Casey later sought hospital treatment for tissue damage and said that food cans had fallen on his hand.
Another video on 21 June showed Patch waiting at the partially opened door of the same room. Casey told the dog to go to his bed, which appeared to be on the other side of the door. As Patch left the room Casey was seen to very forcefully kick him twice.
Following enquiries, RSPCA inspector Rachel Leafe attended another property in Ilkeston on 26 June where Casey was spoken to. Accompanied by police, Patch was seized and taken for a veterinary examination.
“I asked Casey if he would sign Patch over to the RSPCA, he refused,” said inspector Leafe. “He went on to say he was well looked after and nothing was wrong with him. I noted that Casey had his right hand in a sleeve and two fingers bandaged up. I was aware this was the same hand he used to punch Patch with and he did not have anything on his hand in the footage.
“He admitted he knew he was in breach of his disqualification order at this time and that he’d been in breach of it previously.”
The court heard that in a telephone call with the inspector the following month, Casey appeared to be smug about the fact that he hadn’t been caught breaching his ban on keeping animals.
Inspector Leafe added: “He said that when the RSPCA did find out about the breach of ban he gave Patch to a friend but intended to get the dog back once we had finished investigating him. He continued to gloat that the RSPCA hadn’t caught him again until now.”
The vet who examined Patch on 26 June said he was quiet and nervous and reluctant to allow a hand to go over his head. Even though no redness or bruising was apparent, she said this could have been because the incidents had happened several days previously.
“In my professional opinion the person in the video footage is causing unnecessary distress and suffering to the dog by causing him to be fearful and anxious in the first instance. This is then followed up by a kick and then a punch. When the dog is punched he appears to know that he can not get away and stays in position. He appears to, in my opinion, expect the act of punishment and waits for it, knowing that whatever he does the outcome will be the same.
“I would not expect a normal owner to treat any dog in this manner. It is a fundamental part of dog husbandry that an owner or person responsible for a dog should not hit or beat them or physically punish them in this way. To do so is, in my opinion, causing unnecessary suffering.”
Casey was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody on offences 1 and 2 (see below) to be served concurrently. He was also given eight weeks, to be served consecutively, for breaching his ban, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
In mitigation the court heard he had an inability to regulate emotions and temper and that there was a clear link between his mental health and his offending.
Sally Jones, centre manager at Block Fen Animal Centre where Patch was cared for and rehomed, said: “Patch had been through a terrible ordeal but he was such a happy, friendly and resilient boy. He was a joy to care for, always giving us his big Staffie smile and keen to play with his doggy friends at the centre. We’re happy to still be in contact with him and he’s very settled and loving life with his great new family.”
