CONVICTED (2014) \ Alexander Walker, born 14/05/1977, of Cote Royd, Caroline Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6NT but with links to Prestwich and Bury – kept six fighting dogs in squalid mess next to bloodied corpse of another dog
As the newspapers failed to follow-up in this case, we contacted Manchester & Salford Magistrates Court who kindly provided details of Walker’s sentence.
Walker kept six bulldogs which were regularly involved in fights between themselves in appalling conditions alongside a bloody corpse of another pet for two days.
Walker’s animal abuse came to light after police caught him digging a grave for a dead dog in woods.
The bulldog called Major died after being savagely attacked in a park by another dog two days before the find
Walker kept three adult American Bulldogs and three puppies next to the wounded corpse at his home in Prestwich for two days.
After following Walker to his flat an inspector found the floor was filled with rubbish and needles. All of the animals had severe wounds from regular fights and excrement was caked into their paws.
The remains of a cannabis factory were also found, and the only food in the flat was a piece of cake next to Major’s corpse.
All the animals had severe wounds from regular fights and excrement was caked into their paws.
Although there was no suggestion the animals had been involved in organised fights, the court heard they picked up numerous injuries having been allowed to fight each other in the cramped flat.
Paul McCormick, representing the RSPCA, said the stench could be picked up outside.
He said: “On reaching the flat the inspector realised the smell was emanating from his property, and saw a swarm of flies.
“He could see a large amount of of excrement, both old and new, all over the floor. There was so much it was impossible not to step in it.”
He said the remains of a cannabis factory was also found, and the only food in the flat was a piece of cake next to Major’s corpse.
The three adult American bulldogs and three puppies had been kept alongside the bloodied body for two days, he said.
Alexander Walker kept dogs in hellhole flat
Walker, then of Windsor Crescent, Bowker Vale, Bury, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to care for his dogs.
The defendant, who is out of work and on benefits, said he had bought his first American bulldog after being stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver in 2011.
Zoe Earle, defending, said police did not track down his attempted murderer and Walker, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, had kept the animal for protection.
She said: “The problem came when it had a litter, and then they had another.
“Before he knew it, he had in his possession a vast amount of dogs and no hope of looking after them.”
Although Walker had been warned he could be imprisoned for up to a year and fined up to £20,000 for the neglect, he received just two months in jail.
Sentencing | two months’ imprisonment. Disqualified from keeping any animal for life
