Tag Archives: Banff and Buchan

Dogs

Grange, Banffshire: Richard and Lesley Reynolds

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CONVICTED (2022) | Richard Duncan Reynolds, born c. 1966, and wife Lesley Reynolds, aka Lesley Davies, born c. 1963, both of Sillyearn Schoolhouse, Grange, Keith, Banffshire AB55 6TL – failed to take their desperately unwell dog to the vet and left him in severe pain.

Richie Duncan Reynolds. Picture: Facebook.
Richie Duncan Reynolds. Picture: Facebook.

Richie Reynolds and Lesley Reynolds pleaded guilty to failing to seek veterinary treatment for their dog, Patch.

Patch was left to suffer with a catalogue of untreated health conditions which included severe chronic dental disease, a severe case of ear mites, mitral valve disease, suspected renal disease and a low body condition score.
Patch had extensive tartar build--up on his molars which caused his gums to recede.
Patch had extensive tartar build–up on his molars which caused his gums to recede.

The court heard that the 13-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel would have been in a considerable amount of pain and suffering for a number of months. There was no credible reason why this would have not been recognised by the Reynolds.

Very sadly, the little dog was so poorly vets decided to put him to sleep on welfare grounds.

Richie Duncan Reynolds. Picture: Facebook.

Scottish SPCA inspector Amanda Watson said: “Sadly the difficult decision was made by a vet to put Patch to sleep to end his suffering.
“Patch was unclean, depressed and almost collapsed when we took him to be examined by a vet.

“He had at least six lumps of matted faeces attached to various parts of his body.

“He was in an emaciated body condition and weighed just four and a half kilos. The average weight of a male cavalier King Charles spaniel usually ranges from six to eight kilos.

“On top of this, Patch had a grade three to four pansystolic heart murmur, a considerable amount of tartar covering his molars and pre molars causing his gums to recede, and gave no indication that he had any sight.

“Upon further examination of his eyes his reactions were consistent with having keratitis which would have caused Patch a lot of pain.

“These issues did not appear overnight and poor Patch would have been caused a considerable amount of discomfort and pain over a long period of time.

“A post-mortem of Patch revealed that he had severe chronic dental disease, a severe case of ear mites, mitral valve disease, suspected renal disease and a low body condition score.

“Patch had been severely neglected over a long period of time.

Comments on Facebook alleged that the Reynolds had neglected dogs in their care before.
Comments on Facebook alleged that the Reynolds had neglected dogs in their care before.

“Although we’re glad that Reynolds has received a fine we would have liked for both him and Lesley Reynolds to have received a ban on keeping animals due to the disregard they showed for Patch’s well-being in this case, which undoubtedly contributed towards his death.

“We hope they seriously reconsider their ability to care for any animal in future.”

Sentencing: Richard Reynolds was fined £480 while his wife was admonished. No ban was imposed by the court.

Grampian Online
Daily Record


animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, deer, Dogs, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Macduff, Aberdeenshire: Liam Taylor

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CONVICTED (2021) | Liam Hector Taylor, born 13 May 1989, of 14 Deyhill, Macduff AB44 1PX – used a dog for badger baiting and failed to treat his severe facial wounds.

Liam Taylor failed to get treatment for Brock’s horrific facial wounds suffered after his owner forced him to fight a badger.

Twisted Liam Taylor admitted failing to get proper treatment for the horrific facial wounds suffered by bull lurcher Brock after he forced him to fight badgers.

Taylor bought the dog with the intention of using him for “pig digging”, the term often used for badger baiting, between September 21 and October 8, 2019.

He was caught after graphics showing the dog’s injuries, as well as “trophy photos” of him hunting using the dog, were ordered online and the concerned business owner reported the suspected abuse.

Officers from the Scottish SPCA found the injured dog suffering from missing teeth, an injured face and paw, one nostril part-ripped off and cuts around his muzzle area.

Liam Taylor pictured during a court appearance in October 2021. Photo credit: Kathryn Wylie, Evening Express.

The dog was examined by a specialist vet.

Their expert opinion was that the dog had been used repeatedly for hunting resulting in multiple “very serious and disfiguring injuries”. The injuries seen were thought to be a mixture of injuries sustained from fighting with foxes and a badger.

Fiscal depute Karon Rollo told Banff Sheriff Court that Brock’s injuries were consistent with fighting badgers and foxes and said Taylor had been treating the wounds with just salted water.

“The accused said he had owned the dog for less than one month and they were healing injuries,” she said.

“He said the dog received the injuries whilst fighting in Ireland, where the dog originated from.

“He denied causing the wounds and being present when dogs were used for fighting animals. He had been treating the wounds with salty water.

The vet said Brock’s injuries were consistent with repeated hunting activity.

“Loss of teeth is something which is also typically caused as a result of fighting with badgers. Much of the lower lip area had been ripped off.

“The vet said they would have been very painful and any infection could have caused septicemia. There were also ulcerated wounds and scabbing.”

Further evidence in the form of texts sent to a confiscated phone also incriminated Taylor.

He referenced “pig digging, how he “hoped this dog makes is as a pig digger” and how Brock took “a fair bit of punishment from that pig at the weekend”.

Other messages mentioned the dog being “chewed close to the windpipe” and disclosed details of Taylor arranging to meet the recipient to “send dogs down sets”.

The phone also held photos showing Brock bearing fresh wounds and smeared with blood.

DNA from a knife found in Taylor’s jacket found it had been in contact with roe deer and badger and a skin stapler found in his toolbox held Brock’s DNA.

The dog is currently under the care of the SSPCA which says he is looking “much happier”.

Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to get treatment for the animal, and of training or keeping an animal to fight another.

Sentencing: Community Payback Order requiring him to be under supervision for 12 months and to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work. 10-year ownership ban.

Herald
Grampian Online
BBC News

Additional Information:

Taylor is married to Nicole Innes, a nurse with NHS Grampian. The pair have children.

He is originally from Fraserburgh, Grampian.

His Facebook profile, since removed, shows an obsession with weapons such as slingshots which are used by bloodsports fiends to main and kill animals. He is signed up to numerous bloodsports groups, including one named ‘Bunny Bashers’.

On 1 November 2022 the Daily Record published an article revealing Taylor’s links to other convicted wildlife persecutors Anthony Holloway (who’s also involved in dog fighting) and Rhys Davies.