CONVICTED (2016) | Zack Zizzla, born c. 1978, of Beckford Road, Croydon CR0 – beat his dog and failed to give her enough food and water, leaving her starving and having to scavenge for scraps among his rubbish-filled home.
Zizzla admitted five counts of animal cruelty during a hearing at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today on December 6, 2016.
Police discovered the malnourished dog on July 14, 2016, after they were called to Zizzla’s home.
He had previously been banned from keeping animals for two years after a similar case where he mistreated a dog in 2006.
The police saw the dog, called Lacey, had a large cut to her head, and noticed from her protruding ribs that she looked underfed.
Zizzla claimed he had rescued the dog from another owner who had mistreated her, and told police she had been attacked by two bigger dogs shortly before they arrived.
But a vet said Lacey’s skull injuries had been caused by repetitive blunt force trauma, and police found a metal bar in his home.
Prosecutor Kerry Lingard told magistrates that when police arrived that day they noticed a “pungent smell” and rubbish all over the floor of the property.
“Lacey, a small brown dog, ran out and officers noted that the dog had a fresh cut to the top right hand side of its head,” she said.
“Its head was swollen and the cut appeared to be fresh and still bleeding. They also noted the dog appeared to be malnourished, as its ribcage was visible.
“There was rubbish everywhere and the dog was trying to eat from empty packets of biscuits on the floor.
“There was a rusty cage where the dog appeared to sleep, and a metal rod was lying on the floor.”
The officers took Lacey to a vet, who noticed her skull had been deformed, and there was bruising above both her eyes, as well as cuts and bruises to the top of her head.
A further examination 14 days later found the dog’s skull was still deformed.
“The vet described the injuries as causing significant pain and suffering,” said Miss Lingard.
“[They said they were] caused by repetitive blunt force trauma from above.”
Lynn Roberts, defending, told the court Zizzla was remorseful for his treatment of the animal, but had limited capacity to care for himself, let alone an animal because of his diagnosis with schizophrenia.
“He didn’t actually want a dog, it was taken from somebody who was mistreating it,” she said. “Unfortunately he didn’t treat it well either.
“He tells me the dog was in a fight shortly before the Met Police came round, with a couple of Rottweilers.
“But he fully accepts that the dog should have been treated much better.
“It would appear there are probably concerns [from the authorities] about his ability to take care of himself, let alone an animal that needs quite specific care.”
Ms Roberts said Zizzla fully accepted he had failed to do what was required of him in looking after the animal.
“He is remorseful in respect of this animal, in fact, looking at him sitting there [in the dock], he’s hanging his head in shame, he’s remorseful,” she said.
“He tried to take care of her, something that he’s clearly not capable of doing. He’s clearly not capable of taking care of an animal.”
Chair of the bench Terry Carpenter told Zizzla the damage he had caused to the dog was “frightening”.
“You have shown a degree of remorse, but we are mindful that this is your second offence of a very similar nature and that the suffering to the dog must have been over a very prolonged period of time,” he said.
“Really the dog itself can’t ask [for help], and I’m lost for words really.”
“It’s frightening – the suffering that you caused to this dog – and for that reason we are convinced that this has passed the custody threshold.”
“Because this is your second offence it’s plainly obvious to us that you cannot look after animals,” said Mr Carpenter as he passed the ban.
“It’s really for the protection of animals that we are prohibiting you from keeping any animals.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months,; a total of £200 in costs and charges. Indefinite ban on keeping any animals but may apply for the ban to be lifted after 10 years (i.e. December 2026).
Source: Croydon Advertiser (article removed)
