Shropshire Star

Vet tells court of dogs' injuries in Telford animal fighting trial

A vet who examined a number of dogs thought to have been involved in animal fights told a court he found a catalogue of injuries – and that he thought they had been suffering for "one week or more".

Published

William Walker was called in to examine the dogs at the home of Samuel Boylett and his father Charles Boylett in Burtondale, Brookside, Telford.

He told Telford magistrates he found a number of injuries to the mouth, face and feet of the dogs that were so serious the animals had to be sedated before he could treat them. He said they should have been taken to see a vet earlier.

The court previously heard that a number of dogs were seized by police from the Boylett home on March 28, 2014. Samuel Boylett, 33, Charles Boylett, 69, and Mark Paddock, 45, of no fixed address, face a string of charges, all of which they deny, around allegations that dogs were encouraged to fight wild animals.

Mr Paul Taylor, prosecuting the case on behalf of the RSPCA, asked Mr Walker about one dog specifically: "Was the animal suffering?"

"Yes," the vet replied.

Mr Taylor said: "For approximately how long was that animal suffering?"

Mr Walker replied: "It was caused to suffer for a period of one week or more."

The prosecutor asked him: "How could that suffering have been alleviated?"

"It would have been obvious to a reasonable owner that the animal required a vet," the vet replied.

The trial continues.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.