Man banned from keeping animals after repeatedly mistreating his dogs

A man has been banned from keeping animals for a decade after being caught on camera mistreating his dogs.

Joshua Evans of Slade Close, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

The footage, taken through a doorbell camera, was shared with the animal charity by a housing association and showed inappropriately hitting, throwing, and aggressively handling two Cane Corso type dogs.

Two dogs, a female named Bella, who was also suffering from untreated bilateral cherry eye, and a male named Buster, were seized by police and placed in the care of the RSPCA. Both were also underweight.

The vet who examined the dogs said in their report to the court: “Due to the level of caution exhibited by both dogs when approaching their head, it indicates a level of mental distress with prior experiences around their head.

“Therefore it can be considered that both animals had previously suffered or were not protected from pain and injury.

“As witnessed in the videos the dogs are not protected from pain and would have suffered through the mechanism of pain with the action of hitting, striking with a foot, and hitting onto a gate.

“Similarly the dogs would have suffered through the mechanism of pain with the holding of the collar placing all the dogs body weight on a focal point of its neck compressing vital structures such as jugular veins and the trachea.

“This pressure on the trachea would have caused an aspect of respiratory compromise as the dog would have had difficulty breathing appropriately for the duration of time being held up by their collar.

“The duration of suffering would have been acute to the time of striking and raising by the collar but could extend up to 24 hours, potentially longer, depending on the level of associated inflammation.

”The dog was struck four times in one of the clips to the same location on the face therefore increasing the acute pain responses fourfold.

“The level of cowering and submissive behaviour noted in at least two dogs shows that these animals had suffered through the mechanism of fear and distress.

“Both dogs were deemed to be quite slender, with scope to increase their body weight by at least 4kg, therefore can be considered to have not had their needs met due to a failure to provide a suitable diet.

“I would have expected a reasonable owner to have fed an appropriate diet, or sought veterinary advice if there was continued weight loss despite feeding an appropriate diet.

“Bella had bilateral prolapsed third eyelid glands, which are irritating and cause problems with the tear film of the eyes further irritating the eyes. Therefore the dog would not have been protected from discomfort or disease. I would have expected a reasonable owner to have sought veterinary treatment for this condition.”

Alongside the 10 year animal ban, which he can not appeal for 7 years, he was also given a two year community order with 200 hours of unpaid worth and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and ordered to pay £400 and a victim surcharge of £114 when he was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 21 October.

In mitigation, he said he was remorseful and sorry for his behaviour. He was said to have been drinking at the time and facing mental health challenges.

RSPCA Inspector Graeme Brookes, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Dogs feel pain and suffering just like we do and always deserve to be shown kindness and compassion at all times.”