CONVICTED (2022) | wildlife killers Andrew Lloyd Pugh of Tyn Y Coed, Ganllwyd, Dolgellau LL40 2HW and Dominic John Thomas of 1 Ffordd Heulog, Dolgellau LL40 1HH – failed to treat their dogs’ facial injuries and dental disease.
Pugh and Thomas each admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to their dogs by failing to provide veterinary treatment. The prosecution followed an investigation by the RSPCA’s special operations unit (SIU) into suspected wildlife crimes.
Pugh pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dark brown/black female terrier known as Storm by failing to provide veterinary treatment in respect of her severe dental disease.
Thomas pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a brown male terrier dog known as Charlie by failing to provide veterinary treatment in respect of a severe and infected facial injury on the right side of the dog’s face.
The court heard that police warrants were issued at the men’s addresses on March 10, 2022, as part of the SIU’s investigation known as Operation Epona.
At Pugh’s address, Storm was found with extensive scarring to her face and lower jaw, and was exhibiting a degloving injury to her jaw. Storm was seized by police and placed into RSPCA care.
At Thomas’s address five dogs were seized by police and remain in RSPCA care. One of these dogs was a terrier named Charlie who had infected fresh wounds on his muzzle as well as old scarring.
It was also heard that as RSPCA officers approached the address they were informed that a man had thrown a dog over the fence and ran off with it when police executed the warrant. North Wales Police later caught the man who ran off and returned the dog to the premises.
In witness statements from vets in attendance at both warrants it was stated that both Storm and Charlie suffered unnecessarily.
The vets gave the opinion that the injuries seen to the lower jaw in both dogs had the “appearance of a typical injury resulting from those type of activities involving dogs and badgers”.
The six dogs in the care of the RSPCA will now be rehomed – this includes Storm and Charlie who were part of deprivation orders made in court.
Sentencing |
Pugh and Thomas were both ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay £695 in costs and victim surcharge. They were each disqualified for five years from keeping dogs. An Animal Welfare Act section 35 order was made also for a female black Patterdale called Sally who was still owned by Pugh.
Bit Of Work The Scum Want’s.
They wouldn’t have the energy to go out Hunting or Digging, or whatever else the Scum have been up to, before they were caught. They Have Sad Lives. They have also Brought Shame To Their Families. They won’t have no luck for what they have been up to. But at least now their Faces are out there, and everyone knows who they are, and what they have been up to.