Lancashire woman Kirsty Summers who stabbed dog twice with a knife handed suspended prison sentence
A woman from Lancashire who twice stabbed her dog with a knife - but claimed the animal was injured by a nail - has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Kirsty Summers, 40, of Chapel Street in Brierfield, attacked Doberman Miana leaving her with two wounds on her shoulder and back.
At a sentencing hearing at Blackburn Magistrates Court on Tuesday (November 4, Summers was handed an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for ten years following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
She had pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at an earlier hearing.
The court heard the animal welfare charity was called in to investigate the stabbing on February 5 this year after police had arrested Summers and removed Miana from her home the previous day.
The dog, who had been taken to a local veterinary practice for treatment, had two 7cm (2.75 inches) wounds which were cleaned and stapled.
A vet who reviewed the evidence in the case and gave a written statement to the court, said: “The dog has two skin wounds - one on the right shoulder area and the other towards the midline of the dog’s back. Both wounds have sharp margins and penetrate into the subcutaneous tissues.
"The surrounding fur appears to be contaminated with blood and the wound characteristics indicate they are recent.
“In my opinion the two wounds sustained by Miana are consistent with sharp force trauma. These wounds would have been created by a sharp-edged object such as a knife. They are not consistent with being caused by an object such as a nail, which would create more of a blunt force traumatic wound with irregular edges and tissue tearing.
“The incised wounds would have caused this dog to have suffered.”
Summers was interviewed by RSPCA Chief Inspector Susie Micallef about what had happened to Miana. She denied stabbing her pet, saying the dog had injured herself on a nail, and initially refused to sign her over.
The judge said the defendant had stabbed Miana more than once and the offence was one of high culpability, even though the defendant had a complex character.
Summers, who will not be able to contest her ban for two years, did not have any relevant previous convictions and was given credit by the judge for her guilty plea. She was also ordered to carry out 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, with a nine month alcohol treatment requirement, and pay costs of £85 and a £154 victim surcharge.
Further investigation revealed that Miana had severe medical issues and on veterinary advice she was sadly put to sleep. Another dog who was removed from Summers unharmed, was also signed over by the defendant during the course of the investigation and is being cared for by the RSPCA.