A father and son who left their emaciated Staffie cross bleeding from serious dog bite wounds in an outdoor kennel have been handed life bans from keeping animals.
Imran Ali and Junaid Ali, both from West Yorkshire, both pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, one of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, called Max, by failing to provide vet treatment and failing to investigate the canine’s weight loss and pressure sores and the other of failing to meet the needs of the dog.
They appeared for sentencing at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on August 6 when as well as receiving life-long disqualifications from owning animals, Imran Ali was handed an 18-week jail sentence that was suspended for 12 months. He also was told to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) Days and to do 300 hours of unpaid work.
Junaid Ali was ordered to complete 10 RAR Days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard how RSPCA animal rescue officers Hannah Williams and Jenny Anderson went to Junaid’s home at Broomer Street in Dewsbury on December 22 last year (2023) after the animal charity received a report that a dog had collapsed.
They found the blood-stained Staffie inside a wooden shelter in an outdoor run. The canine was so weak he was unable to walk and there was blood seeping from a neck wound. The RSPCA officers had to carry him to their van so they could take him to the vets.
In a statement presented to the court, Animal Rescue Officer Williams said: “Max was very wobbly on his feet and he would not walk out of his shelter, so we used treats to entice him out. He had blood covering most of his neck, front legs, paws and shoulder and there was a strong pungent smell, possibly of infection, while Max’s ribs, hips and spine were visible.
“When I asked Junaid Ali how long the dog had been like this, he replied ‘two days’ and then ‘one week, maybe’.”
Sadly, Max’s injuries were so severe that a vet decided that the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep to end his suffering.
As part of the investigation, RSPCA Inspector Adam Dickinson went to the defendants’ home on January 2 this year, when Imran Ali asked that a planned interview be delayed until after post-mortem results were obtained.
Inspector Dickinson said in a statement: “The defendant said they walked Max all the time, but recently he had refused to leave his kennel and had begun losing weight. He provided worming tablets, but there were no improvements.
“Ali had not seen Max leave his kennel for days so he pulled him out and he was covered in blood. Ali thought the injuries were from the kennel or from rats in the area, but he could not afford to do anything so he asked his son to contact the RSPCA.”
A post-mortem as well as a clinical examination showed Max had suffered six puncture wounds across his shoulders that had been inflicted by another dog.
The wounds were infected and Max was also emaciated with a vet scoring him just one out of nine on a body condition chart.
At the time he was found by the RSPCA, Max was suffering from pressure sores to a wrist, elbow, ankle and to his pelvis, which a vet from RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, who reviewed the evidence, said was likely caused by the dog not being able to move for a prolonged period.
In mitigation, the court was told that Junaid Ali has severe learning difficulties and although Imran Ali was not Max’s owner in recent times he should have taken on more responsibility for his care.
Both defendants were told to pay £400 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA ARO Williams said: “Max would have experienced severe physical pain at the time these injuries were inflicted, but he was left for days in severe discomfort when he was unable to get out of his kennel.
“Owners have a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide prompt vet treatment for their pets. A responsible owner would also have gone to the vets if their dog became underweight and if they developed pressure sores.
“These defendants failed to take any course of action and this poor dog was given no pain relief and did not receive any medical treatment. By the time one of them contacted the RSPCA it was too late.”
