Call comes after Welsh man jailed for killing his dog
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has renewed its call for tougher sentences for animal cruelty after a Welsh farmer was sent to prison for 18 weeks for killing his sheepdog.
Graham Thomas from Tredegar was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Welsh border collie Prince by hanging him from a tree. Three people witnessed the horrific incident, who promptly contacted the RSPCA.
The hearing took place last Wednesday (21 March), where Newport Magistrates Court heard the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be a suitable punishment. Mr Thomas was jailed for 18 weeks, banned from keeping dogs and sheep for life and ordered to pay more than £750 in costs.
The news comes weeks after the Government proposed to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty in England and Wales to five years. Research by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home shows that the current six-month sentence is the lowest in Europe.
“Shocking cases like this show how important it is to increase sentences for the most serious cases of animal cruelty,” said Battersea’s chief executive, Claire Horton.
“Had this man been convicted of fly-tipping, he could have been jailed for up to five years. Instead, he has escaped with just a few months in prison. We urge Westminster not to lose sight of this vital issue and to tighten up our laws as soon as possible."
Commenting on the incident, RSPCA inspector Emma Smith said: “This is such an unusual and disturbing case where a sheepdog was killed by his owner allegedly because he wouldn’t round up his sheep properly.
“Prince would have suffered immensely which resulted say in his death. This deliberate cruelty is just so horrific to fathom. Following the incident, his body was removed by the defendant and burnt."
She continued: “It must have been extremely distressing for the witnesses to have seen this. We are very grateful to them for reporting to us and assisting with our investigations.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
