A Halifax man has been disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years after he caused two dogs to suffer by failing to treat their fractured teeth.
Lee Peter Gladwin of Myrtle Drive, Halifax appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (17 August) for sentencing.
He previously pleaded guilty to two Animal Welfare Act offences, namely causing unnecessary suffering to a brown female Patterdale terrier and a black male Patterdale terrier by failing to provide veterinary treatment for their fractured teeth which were causing pain.
Gladwin was handed a 20 week suspended prison sentence for 18 months, ordered to pay £750 and a victim surcharge of £128. He was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
The court heard that a warrant was carried out by West Yorkshire Police on 14 April 2022 along with the RSPCA special operations unit at Tewit Lane in Halifax. Two dogs were seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA. The female dog was seen to have some scarring to the face and also had an injury to the lower jaw, while the other dog also had some scarring on the face.
The two dogs were examined by a veterinary surgeon who advised that both dogs required dental treatment procedures under general anaesthetic. This was for surgical extraction of broken tooth root remnants and anti-inflammatory painkiller medication was prescribed.
In mitigation it was suggested that the injuries sustained by both dogs had been caused when they had fought with each other. However the court also heard that the injuries were more consistent with those caused by a badger.
In evidence from a vet – it was said that both dogs had “sustained significant wounds to the front of the mouth / nose / lips evidenced through scarring of the soft tissues and missing / broken incisor teeth.”.
They said: “At the time of these injuries being sustained I would expect the significant soft tissue wounds to have been bleeding with clearly visible damage, redness and swelling.
“I would expect the dogs to have experienced intense acute pain at the time of their teeth being pulled out or broken, together with large lacerations to the soft tissues of the face; and ongoing pain and discomfort is expected from the broken teeth.
“An increased level of pain would also be anticipated for (the female terrier) due to abscessation of one of the tooth roots.
“Accidental incidents are in my opinion less likely as both dogs have experienced a similar trauma. The scarred lacerations to the nose and lips in combination with broken incisor teeth and multiple incisor teeth having been pulled out entirely is in my opinion most likely to have been caused by a bite wound from a badger.”
Fortunately, the two dogs in RSPCA care have had full dental repairs and were initially with foster carers before the case was heard. After being signed over to the RSPCA (on 13/07/2023) they were rehomed.
