Category: Magazine

Today, the Sentencing Council has published proposals for how courts should sentence people convicted of dangerous dog offences. A press release issued by the Sentencing Council reads:

The proposals follow changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which came into force last year. These made very substantial increases to the maximum sentences for these offences, extended the law to cover offences on private property and introduced a new offence to cover attacks on assistance dogs.

New sentencing guidelines are therefore being produced to reflect the changes to legislation and to provide updated guidance for judges and magistrates to use in sentencing these cases, which can include those of the utmost seriousness involving a fatality.

Sentence levels in the proposed guidelines have increased in line with changes to the law and therefore allow a wider range of sentence lengths than are possible under existing guidelines. The law has increased maximum sentences for offences where someone is killed by a dangerous dog from two years to 14 years and so proposed sentencing ranges, which go up to this new maximum can accommodate more effectively the variety of offenders who come before the courts. At the top end, they could involve someone who has bred or trained a dog to be aggressive and uses the dog as a weapon or to intimidate people, whose dog carries out a fatal attack.

However, the guideline sentencing ranges also cover incidents where the dog owner was much less culpable. This could include someone who has been a responsible dog owner and taken safety measures but an unforeseen incident happens where their dog escapes from their house and attacks someone in the street and despite their efforts to restrain the dog, the victim dies.

The proposed guidelines also reflect the increase in the legal maximum from two to five years where a person is injured by a dangerous dog with sentencing ranges that go up to four years, allowing sentencers to go outside the guideline in exceptional cases.

The law also introduced a new offence of a dog being dangerously out of control and killing or injuring an assistance dog, which could be those trained to guide someone with a visual impairment, or assist someone with a hearing impairment or other disability. A guideline has therefore been produced to cover this offence, accommodating the varying levels of harm and culpability that can arise. It takes into account both the harm to the assistance dog and the potential impact on the assisted person of being without their trained dog for any period of time.

In line with the extension of the law, the draft guidelines now cover incidents which happen on private property as well as in public spaces. This means they will apply to incidents such as when a postal worker on a delivery round is attacked by a dog in someone’s front garden or when a guest at someone’s house is injured.

As well as setting out appropriate sentence ranges for these offences, the guidelines aim to make sure sentencers use the full range of their powers, for example awarding compensation to victims or banning irresponsible owners who put the public at risk from keeping dogs.

The Council is seeking the views of as many people as possible interested in the sentencing of dangerous dog offences. It is particularly interested in views about how to assess the seriousness of offences, which factors should influence a sentence, the structure of the guidelines and the sentence ranges and levels.

The consultation closes on 9 June 2015. It is open to everyone, both criminal justice professionals and members of the public. People can respond by visiting sentencingcouncil.org.uk, responding either to the full consultation, or by filling out a simpler online questionnaire.
Judge Julian Goose, member of the Sentencing Council, said:
“Most dog owners are responsible, care for their pets properly and keep them under control but some irresponsible owners put others at risk of injury or death and we want to ensure that the courts have the guidance needed to help them sentence offenders appropriately.
“In drawing up our proposals, we have been very aware of the potentially devastating impact of these offences on victims. Long sentences are available for the most serious offences. Sentencers are also encouraged to use their powers where appropriate to ban people from keeping dogs or to order them to pay compensation to victims.
“This is a public consultation. We are interested in hearing from people with expertise or an interest in this issue so that we can develop guidelines that are clear, proportionate and effective.”
Trevor Cooper, dog law specialist at Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, commented:

“Courts often face the difficult task of deciding on appropriate sentencing in dog cases, which can be emotive and complex. These draft guidelines on dangerous dog offences will help to provide much needed clarity and consistency in assessing individual cases. This is vital with the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act coming into force last year. Dogs Trust are pleased to see the proposals recognise that there can be a range of culpability on the part of offenders for these offences, and that courts should carefully consider the appropriate sentence in each case.”

Richard Monkhouse JP, Chairman of the Magistrates Association, said:

“There has been an increase in dangerous dog cases coming before the courts over the past 10 years and following the significant changes in the law, we are pleased that new guidelines are being introduced. They will help magistrates decide on appropriate sentences for the variety of offenders they deal with and assist them in taking other actions necessary to keep the public safe, such as by banning an offender from owning a dog.”

This consultation is open to everyone including members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, business representatives and any individuals who work in or have an interest in criminal justice or fraud matters. It closes on 9 June 2015 and responses can be made online at www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk, by email to consultation@sentencingcouncil.gsi.gov.uk or by post to:

Office of the Sentencing Council
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London WC2A 2LL

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy who was badly beaten by an eight-year-old child has now been rehabilitated by the RSPCA and is searching for a new home.

Following his rescue by the RSPCA Stanley was taken in to the charity’s Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey.

After becoming stressed in kennels Stanley jumped and ruptured a cruciate ligament which then needed veterinary care.

The one-year-old pup has since undergone hydrotherapy to help him heal and staff have been working hard to rebuild his confidence after his rough start in life in the hope he will now be able to find someone to call his own.

Fosterer Sarah Piggott said: “Stanley is a gorgeous boy and is looking for a home with the most special and loving of owners. He’s a bright, sensitive and affectionate dog who, despite being so young, has coped with so much in his short life – he now just needs an experienced owner to share his life with.

“He’s extremely clever – he likes his puzzle toys, clicker training and classes. Stanley has a pink bunny toy that he really likes – he carries it around the house and brings it to his favourite people to play with.

“He’s sweet and affectionate and bonds strongly to the people who look after him – his favourite thing to do is chew on stag bars, have cuddles on the sofa or a belly rub. In many ways he is a typical young staffy – bouncy and energetic!

“He is a beautiful dog that has grown so much in confidence – now he just needs experienced owners to continue to work with him and help him understand the world is not so scary. I know he would make his new owners very happy – we just need to help him find them!”

Stanley cannot be rehomed with children and would prefer to be the only pet in the home. If you would feel like you could offer Stanley his forever home please contact RSPCA Millbrook on 0300 123 0740 or email sarah.piggott@rspca.org.uk

What happens if you ask your dog to help you out in a live cooking demonstration?

Something like this….

The RSPCA has today issued a news release about the jailing of a man described as a major figure in British dog fighting. He’s going to jail, but for just 121 days.

The RSPCA release reads:

John Psaila thought to be a major figure in British dogfighting

A Lancashire man thought to be a major figure in British dogfighting has been jailed for 121 days and banned from keeping animals for life after an RSPCA investigation uncovered a dogfighting training school at his house.

Officers from the RSPCA’s special operations unit tracked John Psaila down to two houses in the Greater Manchester area where he kept and trained several pit bull terrier type dogs to fight in organised bouts.

The 49-year-old, of Thornvale, Abram, was today was sentenced for the 14 offences he had previously admitted. Charges included training animals to fight and possession of equipment such as treadmills, medication and a captive bolt gun which was all designed for use in connection with organised fights.

Officers even discovered one dog being trained on a treadmill when they arrived at Psaila’s address in Abram during investigations last summer.

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “John Psaila appears to be a big player in the dogfighting world judging by the evidence we found during our investigation. When he was interviewed he admitted he’d had an interest in pit bull terriers since the 1980s.

“To have successfully obtained convictions against him is a huge breakthrough in our ongoing battle to bring dogfighters to justice and prevent more animals from suffering at the hands of people like him.

“Dogfighting is one of the most brutal, extreme and premeditated forms of animal cruelty. Hopefully this case will provide fresh information that will lead us to other dogfighters who think they are above the law.”

He appeared at Wigan & Leigh Magistrates’ Court today (24.2.15) when he was sentenced to 121 days in jail and disqualified from keeping all animals for life. Magistrates told Psaila he cannot appeal that ban for 15 years. He was also ordered to pay £520 costs.

Inspectors from the RSPCA’s special operations unit – which investigates organised animal crime – joined officers from Greater Manchester Police on warrants at Psalia’s Abram address, as well as a house on Lowton Street in Radcliffe, Manchester on 9 June last year.

They were acting on information that he was involved in organised dogfighting and an allegation he was preparing to take a dog to a fight.

At the Abram address they found what resembled a training school for fighting dogs, including treadmills, weighing scales, home veterinary kits with medication and muscle-gaining powder and breaking sticks, which are typically used to separate dogs during a fight.

The RSPCA found Psaila had two pit bull type dogs – called Ziggy and Tip – in his care and he subsequently admitted training both of the dogs to fight.

Psaila also admitted to training a dog called Cruise to fight. Although the dog was not found at either address, texts from his phone revealed plans to arrange a fight between Cruise and another unknown dog.

Footage of the dogs being trained on treadmills was found on the defendant’s mobile phone.

Other paraphernalia such as dogfighting yearbooks and magazines, as well as a bucket and a sponge covered in blood were also discovered at property belonging to Psaila.

The court was told in mitigation that Psaila claimed to have only been involved in dogfighting for three years in an attempt to make money.

Recent RSPCA figures showed Greater Manchester came out third in the list of areas which received the highest number of calls about organised animal fighting in 2014. There were 35 reports from Greater Manchester, as the national figures showed the number of calls to the RSPCA about organised animal fighting had increased by 33% in the past five years.

How do you feel about the jail term imposed on a self confessed animal abuser?

Reports of organised animal fighting to RSPCA up by a third in past five years

Shocking new figures come 180 years after dog fighting was banned in UK

Calls to the RSPCA reporting organised animal fighting have gone up by a third in the past five years – despite dog and cockfighting being banned for 180 years.

There was a total of 594 calls to Britain’s biggest animal charity in 2014 to report incidents or information connected to organised animal fighting, compared to 449 in 2010 – an increase of nearly 33%.

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operations unit which investigates organised animal crime, said the figures came as no surprise.

“People look at me with amazement when I tell them about some of the things I’ve seen and heard of when it comes to dogfighting and cockfighting. Some people simply can’t believe it still happens, but it does and these new figures show that it is as much a problem now, if not more, than any other point in recent years.

“I’ve been investigating organised animal fighting for more than a decade and it still disgusts me, knowing that there are individuals who continue to take pleasure in watching animals brutally fight each other, often causing horrific and sometimes fatal injuries.

“RSPCA inspectors deal with countless instances of neglect caused by ignorance, but these cases are all about premeditated cruelty. People are deliberately breeding, training and fighting animals for the sole purpose of inflicting suffering.

“Hopefully one day organised animal fighting can truthfully be described as a thing of the past. Until then, we’ll keep investigating and try to bring about an end to such horrific levels of animal cruelty.”

Animal fighting and baiting was banned in England by the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835. It is now covered by section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act which makes it illegal to stage an animal fight, to take part in an animal fight, train animals for the purpose of fighting, to attend and/or publicise an animal fight and to posses equipment designed to be used in connection with animal fighting.

The West Midlands emerged as the region with the most calls last year, followed by Greater London and Greater Manchester.

The areas with most reports of organised animal cruelty to the RSPCA in 2014 were:

1. West Midlands (48)

2. Greater London (36)

3. Greater Manchester (35)

4. Lancashire (27)

5. Kent (26)

6=. Nottinghamshire (23)

6=. West Yorkshire (23)

8=. Essex (18)

8=. South Yorkshire (18)

10=. Cheshire (16)

10=. Derbyshire (16)

“The West Midlands and other largely urban areas tend to get most reports but, from our experience, organised animal fighting can happen anywhere, from remote locations to city warehouses.

“The most important thing is that if someone does have any information they contact the RSPCA so that we can investigate,” added chief inspector Briggs.

Anyone who wants to report animal cruelty can contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty and advice line by calling 0300 1234 999.

See: Dog Fighting in Britain: The Shocking Reality