CONVICTED (2013) | Kalson George Abbey, born 28/09/1972, of Devon Close, Macclesfield SK10 3HB – subjected his dog to regular beatings over three months before she was rescued by a ‘posse’ of neighbours
Former soldier Kalson Abbey repeatedly whipped six-month-old Northern Inuit Mishka with a braided strap in a series of “punishment” beatings because she kept soiling his carpet.
His aggressive yells of “bad dog” and the terrified yelps of pain from the animal so distressed neighbours in the cul-de-sac where he lived that in a dramatic rescue mission they confronted Abbey on his doorstep and forced him to hand over his pet.
They took Mishka to the RSPCA, whose vets discovered savage bruising on her body.
Jobless Abbey denied causing unnecessary suffering and claimed he was the victim of a “vendetta”. But he was convicted after four neighbours gave evidence.
One nearby resident who asked not to be named said yesterday: “Abbey is nothing but a cowardly bully. That dog is only tiny and a fraction of his size. It’s no wonder the neighbours had to step in to rescue her.”
The court heard Abbey had fed and walked Mishka regularly but routinely gave her severe beatings and on one occasion was seen holding the dog off the ground by dangling her from a lead around her neck.
A policeman and an RSPCA officer took Mishka into kennels after her rescue. There, a vet discovered she was suffering from “very extensive bruising and superficial lacerations with one area consistent with an injury from a braided strap or similar object”.
Prosecutor Claire Aldridge said even Abbey’s ex-girlfriend complained about his behaviour and produced a video on her iPhone in which he is heard shouting “bad dog Mishka, bad dog Mishka”.
Miss Aldridge added: “The defendant is an angry man who beats his dog and an incident caused several neighbours to attend his home.
“They acted out of concern for a puppy they felt was in need of rescuing. He inflicted repeated emotional and physical trauma. Even a healthy dog can be an abused dog.”
Abbey’s defence lawyer John Gallagher said his client had two prolapsed discs and could not have harmed the dog. He added: “My instructions are that he intends to appeal.”
But bench chairman Shelagh Mayer said: “The offence occurred over a prolonged period of time and we believe that the act was committed with intent and there was injury.’’
RSPCA officer Emma Timmis said: “We are very happy that he has been given a ban and thankfully Mishka is not going back to him.”
Sentencing: six-week custodial sentence suspended for two years. Ordered to pay £250 towards the £5,000 costs of the prosecution and Mishka’s kennel feels. Banned from keeping any animal for five years (expired March 2018).
Update November 2020
Abbey was convicted of animal cruelty for a second time in connection with a kitten’s untreated fractures, which a vet said had been caused by ‘high energy blunt force trauma’
An investigation was launched into the welfare of kitten, called Missy, after a concerned member of the public reported Abbey to the RSPCA.
Abbey was visited by Inspector Jenny Bethel on January 2, 2020, who asked to see the four-month-old kitten.
Inspector Bethel could see the kitten was struggling to walk and offered to take her to the vet but Abbey refused. She advised Abbey that he must take her to a vet as soon as possible and that she would be checking if he had.
However, a few days later, on January 8, a neighbour found the injured kitten struggling outside Abbey’s property and took her to a nearby vet for treatment.
The vet was concerned about how the injuries to Missy were caused and called the RSPCA.
Inspector Andy Harris collected Missy from the vets and she was transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment where staff could see she was struggling to walk due to her injuries.
An X-ray revealed that Missy had a fractured left hip joint and two fractures of the left thigh bone. All showed various signs of bone remodelling.
A vet report stated the injuries were caused by ‘high energy blunt force trauma’ which would not have occurred in the home environment – and Abbey stated the kitten had not been outside his garden.
The vet added that injuries to the kitten were what he would expect to see in the case of a road traffic accident and said Missy would have suffered for at least 14 days as Abbey failed to get her veterinary treatment.
Missy was given pain relief but needed an urgent operation and the RSPCA returned to Abbey’s house to seek permission for this.
The hearing was told Abbey was in breach of a lifetime ban on keeping animals at the time of the offence, which was imposed in 2013 after he was convicted of another animal welfare offence.
Inspector Andy Harris said: “Missy’s leg was saved and she adapted to her disability.
“I am pleased to say that last week she was rehomed by the RSPCA Bury and Oldham district branch and is now enjoying life.”
During the interview, Abbey said he thought the kitten, which he said he found as a stray, dragged her leg because she was in-bred.
He said he intended to take the cat to the vet following the RSPCA visit but that Missy went missing before he could.
Abbey also said he thought he had been banned from keeping animals for five years [this is what was originally reported].
Abbey pleaded guilty to one animal welfare charge.
At the sentencing on November 5, 2020, Abbey was given a lifetime ban and also ordered to pay £500 costs, an £80 fine and £32 victim surcharge.
Such Kind Neighbours, for helping a little Animal in need, and for Testifying against him. Thank You So Much, for being so kind.
sick is he in jail