CONVICTED (2025) | Harry Russell, born January 1983, of 25B Kerrera Terrace, Oban PA34 5AT – throttled his pet dog to death.

Drug- and alcohol-addicted Russell pleaded guilty to killing the young American bulldog, Rex, in 2021. He and his then partner had adopted the dog, who was under two years old, a few weeks earlier.

The father-of-three made the decision to end Rex’s life after a neighbour complained about the dog’s aggressive behaviour. He and his partner agreed that Rex should be put down. But instead of taking him to a vet, Russell decided to take matters into his own hands and subjected the dog to a brutal death.

The court heard that Rex had a psychological disorder and was aggressive to other dogs.

Prosecutor Raeesa Ahmed told the court:: “During April 2021, the complainer was in the locus when a neighbour had cause for complaint about Rex’s behaviour.

“The accused had gone out to get Rex and brought him into the living room of the house.

“The accused and the complainer agreed that Rex’s behaviour was not acceptable, so they agreed they would have Rex put down.

“The complainer said she would contact the vets to have the dog put down, but the accused stopped her, saying ‘I have to do this myself’.

“Russell had been drinking heavily at the time and was behaving aggressively to the complainer. He said it was his dog.

“The complainer had seen him angry before but did not expect him to kill the dog.”

The woman went outside to check on her children, and when she came back 10 minutes later, she saw Russell kneeling over the dog in the bathroom. He appeared to be strangling it.

“The complainer said ‘what the hell are you doing?,’” Miss Ahmed said.

“He didn’t look up and continued to strangle the dog. It went on for a minute.

“Thinking [Rex] was dead. Russell was then angry.

“The complainer said the dog Rex was not moving. It was at that moment that the accused and complainer heard the dog gargle.

“The complainer told Russell to leave the dog alone. The accused ignored her and got back on top of the dog to strangle him.”

The complainer then dragged Rex’s body into the bathroom and exited the room via the window.

“That evening, the complainer took the dog to be buried at a place where he liked to walk.”

The complainer was said to be “terrified” of the accused and kept what had happened secret, telling people “Rex had been put down”. But later she reported it to the police.

The court described Russell’s actions as “warped and disturbing”, but determined that the killing was not sadistically motivated and spared him a custodial sentence.

Defence agent Jane MacNiven said Russell had “no explanation” for why he killed the dog, other than he was under the influence of alcohol.

She said: “Quite honestly, Mr Russell has no mitigation for his actions.

“He appreciates just how devastating his actions were.

“I cannot give you any explanation. At the time, he was drinking heavily and using drugs.”

“There is nothing he can say that will make it any better.

“Mr Russell was going through a difficult time at the time of the offence. The offence happened in 2021.

“Since then, he found himself the subject of a community payback order (CPO). The report on his CPO is one of the most glowing reports the court will have seen.

“He is no longer in a relationship with the person, and he is in full-time work.

“I have spoken with [the fiscal depute] and I understand she is seeking a lifelong restriction on having any animals. He is not opposed to that.”

While strangling the dog, the court heard that Russell was “crying”.

She continued: “He is utterly appalled at the nature of this offence. The person who appears before the court is a different person.”

Sheriff Cameron said: “It was warped and disturbing, and his position is that he thought he was doing the right thing.

“Is there any suggestion that this was carried out in a sadistic manner?”

Mrs MacNiven replied: “It was not a decision to inflict pain and suffering on the animal. The decision had already been made that this animal needed to be put down.

“Whether he thought at the time it was the right thing to do, he knows it was not.

“He is going to have to bear the consequences of his actions forever, and he is going to have to live with the fact that he has done this for the rest of his life.

“It was his decision, and it was the wrong decision.”

Sheriff Cameron addressed Russell, saying: “This case is as disturbing as it is unusual. You behaved in a deplorable manner.

“It is clear that a decision had been reached by you and your family to put the dog to sleep.

“The right thing to do, the most compassionate thing, would have been to speak to a vet, not to take matters into your own hands. You had no right.

“However, in your favour are a number of factors: your own devastation over your actions and reports that you struggle to live with your guilt. A glowing report from Argyll and Bute Addiction Services, and the progress made on a community payback order for a non-analogous matter.

“You have performed your community service in an exemplary manner. This incident happened four years ago, you are in full-time employment, and you have limited previous convictions.

“Your actions do not appear to have been motivated by malice.

“Therefore, I am narrowly persuaded that this can be dealt with as a direct alternative to jail.”

Sentencing | seven-month tagging order. Disqualified from keeping or owning animals indefinitely.

Press & Journal (May 2025) (archive link)
Press & Journal (June 2025) (behind paywall)

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Additional Information

Harry Russell works for Hire & Supplies Ltd. Despite being aware of their employee’s latest conviction – and for a particular heinous crime – they are choosing to stand by him.

Russell’s previous convictions apparently include domestic violence and we understand that his community service sentence related to that.