Man admits to keeping dogs for use in fights
AN Uddingston man has pled guilty to keeping dogs for animal fighting.
Andrew Mullen’s home was searched by officers from the Scottish SPCA and Strathclyde Police in March 2010.
Five dogs were found in kennels in the back garden, three of which had injuries or scarring consistent with fox or badger fighting.
A number of items were also seized, including a laptop containing 340 images showing the organised baiting of dogs onto foxes, deer and badgers.
In some, the 37-year-old is shown holding up dead foxes or with them laid out on the ground, apparently as trophies.
The offences are said to have taken place between January 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010.
Mullen pled guilty to keeping the dogs for animal fighting - contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 - at Lanark Sheriff Court last Thursday. He is due to be sentenced on March 1.
Area Procurator Fiscal Tom Dysart said: “The dogs found in Mullen’s garden had multiple injuries and scars which showed they had been involved in recent and historic fights with badgers and foxes.
“Dogs used for animal fights suffer terrible injuries, some of which can be fatal. They rarely receive appropriate veterinary treatment.
“The animals who are set upon by these dogs also suffer dreadful injuries, if they are not killed outright. Badgers in particular are given special protection by law, which makes attacks on them even more heinous.
“In pleading guilty, Mullen has accepted his disregard for the well-being of his dogs and of the animals with which they could be forced to fight.
“Welfare laws exist to protect our animals and Scotland’s prosecutors will take robust action against anyone who flouts them.
“Neither will offences against Scotland’s wildlife be tolerated and perpetrators can expect to find themselves in court.”
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