Man who bit dog on nose gets lifetime ban

A man has been banned from owning animals for life after he battered his dog and bit it on the nose. Philip Carter attacked Splodge, a cross terrier, when the dog bit him on the hand. Carter (29), of Sharpley Road, Loughborough, appeared at the town's magistrates' court yesterday to be sentenced for causing Splodge unnecessary suffering and failing to get the dog cared for by a vet after it was injured.

He pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing and yesterday received a 12-week suspended prison sentence for the offences. John Sutcliffe, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court police officers were called to Carter's home on March 2 last year and found a trail of blood. He said they discovered the dog with a wound to its nose that was bleeding severely. Mr Sutcliffe said the dog was breathing heavily and struggling for breath.

He said Splodge also suffered injuries to its muzzle where its teeth had penetrated through the flesh in three places because of the beating and had bruising to its ears. Mr Sutcliffe said: "The defendant's explanation was one of self-defence. He hit the dog to stop it biting him."



At a previous hearing, Mr Sutcliffe said: "It matters not whether he was, or was not, bitten by the dog. If he was not, this was a gratuitous and savage attack. If he was, the retaliation was massive and out of all proportion."

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe told Carter he had escaped jail only because he admitted the offences on the day he was due to stand trial. "I am giving you a suspended sentence given your late guilty plea." He warned Carter he would go to prison if he breached the ban or re-offended within 18 months. Carter was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Dave McAdam said he was delighted with the result.
He said: "The most important thing for us is the lifetime ban. The judge was not messing around when he said that he (Carter) would go to prison if he breached it. Splodge suffered absolutely horrendous injuries and there was no justification whatever to use that level of force. I'm pleased to say Splodge has made a full recovery and he has now got a cracking home."