Beaten terrier dog left with 'severe and painful' injuries

Ted the terrier was found with a dislocated hip and multiple bruises when RSPCA inspectors attended a report that a dog was being beaten in Harrogate.

Two men have now been sentenced to 18-weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18-months, and disqualified from keeping animals for ten years following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Russell Marriner 56 and William Thomas Marriner 20, both of St Patrick’s Way, Harrogate, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 5 for sentencing.

The father and son had been bailed to attend after they were found guilty in their absence when they failed to turn up at a previous hearing.

They both faced two animal welfare offences each, including inflicting injuries on their dog Ted and failing to ensure he received appropriate veterinary care for his injuries.

RSPCA Inspector Nikki Cheetham, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, attended their home with police after receiving a call about a dog being beaten.

The court heard how they knocked loudly on the door of the house but apart from a single bark there was no response.

They could see a small white terrier type dog huddled behind the door and red patches on the laminate flooring which looked like blood.

Ted was severely injured and cowering in fear when officers found him

Insp Cheetham said: “Police finally managed to rouse a man who eventually opened the door and it became immediately apparent that the small dog, called Ted, was severely injured.

"He was covered in dried blood and he had a significant wound to the top of his head.

“Both the men claimed Ted had attacked them but neither of them were able to show any injuries.”

The officers found further blood stains throughout the living room including on a blood-covered metal vegetable steamer, on an axe and blood smeared on a cardboard box.

These items were seized as evidence and Ted was signed over into the RSPCA’s care.

Insp Cheetham said: “Ted was not able to bear weight on his right hind leg so I picked him up and carried him to my van.

"When we arrived at the vets I found Ted cowering at the back of the kennel.

"It took me several minutes to gain his trust.”

During the examination Ted was nervous but not aggressive, despite being in pain, and he laid down with his head on the examination table.

Vets found Ted had bruising to his upper lip, a fractured tooth and a wound affecting his gums as well as bruising to his tongue, left eye and pinnae of both ears.

After clipping his fur the vet found small, circular wounds consistent with the pattern of holes on the metal vegetable steamer that was found in the house smeared with blood.

Radiographs also revealed Ted had a dislocated hip.

The veterinary report said: “The injuries sustained are, in my opinion, consistent with assault and severe blunt force trauma.

"It takes a very significant amount of force to dislocate the hip and this is an extremely painful injury that can in some cases require hip surgery and can cause long term complications.

“In addition to physical pain, Ted was suffering from fear.

"He was nervous around humans and it took my colleagues and I time and care to build trust with him.

"The injuries sustained were severe, painful and caused a great deal of suffering.”

Over the following days Ted was rested to maximise the chance of his hip staying in place and prevent the need for hip surgery.

He needed a high level of pain relief before being discharged into the RSPCA’s care to continue his recovery.

Mitigation was given in court that due to the Marriners' health issues and the fact that neither defendant had any previous convictions, a custodial sentence would not be appropriate.

Ted is now happy in a loving home

In addition to the decade-long disqualification and suspended prison sentences they were both ordered to attend a six-month alcohol treatment program.

Russell Marriner was further sentenced to carry out a 40 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and William Marriner a 25 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Both men were ordered to pay £700 costs and a victim surcharge of £122.

Ted has since been found a new home through the RSPCA’s York Animal Centre where he will receive the love and attention that he deserves.