Puppy Narla '˜left traumatised' after being chased with plank of wood
Sickening video footage shows Christopher Dennett, 30, chasing the traumatised Dogue de Bordeaux puppy Narla at his home in Anderton Crescent, Buckshaw Village.
A horrified neighbour caught the attack on video and rang police and sent it to the RSPCA, sparking an investigation.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdUnremorseful Dennett, a HGV driver who transports livestock, laughed off the investigation telling RSPCA workers he was trying to train the dog for close-quarters protection for his girlfriend.
He was disqualified from keeping dogs for 12 months by Preston Magistrates’ Court, and was ordered to pay a £660 fine and a £66 surcharge after admitting causing Narla unnecessary suffering.
The court watched the 47 second video in which the frightened dog is heard barking and seen running away as he swings at her with the wood.
Inspector Helen Smith, from the RSPCA, said the one-year-old puppy has been left terrified of men as a result of its treatment.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said: “Mr Dennett showed no remorse when interviewed and didn’t seem to understand what he had done wrong.
“As you can see from the video, Narla is terrified, and has been caused unnecessary suffering, fear and distress.
“She is now terrified of men and although we could find no significant physical harm, emotionally she is not in a good way.”
The court heard Dennett was trying to emulate a training video he had seen on Youtube.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut Insp Smith said: “He said he was training the dog to protect his partner for when he was away but this is no way to train a dog.
“You can hear the dog growling and then yelping, although it is not clear if Narla was struck in the video.
“Mr Dennett has now signed Narla into the care of the RSPCA and we will look after her and then try to re-home her.”
Dennett admitted one offence under the Animal Welfare Act of causing unnecessary suffering by using threatening or abusive behaviour towards the dog.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDefending Dennett, Mr Smith said: “Mr Dennett has no previous convictions and should be given credit for his guilty plea.”
He added Dennett’s partner, who was dogsitting other people’s pets at the property at the time, had since split up with him.
Their other pet dog, a black Labrador called Millie, is now in the care of his parents.
The chairman of the bench said: “We’ve noted the aggravating factor of a piece of wood being used.
“It’s clear some distress of a significant nature was caused to Narla.”