Vet tells animal fighting trial how she had to 'reconstruct' dog's face
A vet has told a court how she carried out surgery on a dog after it had been seized by the RSPCA following animal welfare concerns.
Nine terrier and lurcher-type dogs were seized from Samuel Boylett's home in Burtondale, Brookside, in Telford, on March 28, 2014.
Telford Magistrates Court heard yesterday that one of the dogs had to be seen by a vet on April 9, 2014, after suffering a significant injury to its face.
Veterinary surgeon Deborah Wragg told the court that when she saw the dog it had "fresh" injuries around its face.
She said there were also injuries to the dog's nose and lip and she had to operate to reconstruct part of its face. Ms Sara-Lise Howe, for Boylett, suggested the dog had been brought to the vet with a "significant" facial injury and suggested the animal had been attacked while in the RSPCA's care.
Boylett, 33, his father Charles Boylett, 69, both of Burtondale, and Mark Paddock, 45, of no fixed address, are accused of a string of charges alleging that dogs were encouraged to fight wild animals.
Yesterday, the court was also shown video footage taken at Boylett's address.
It showed a number of dogs, some with alleged injuries, and a treadmill with a dog lead attached and a tool box containing veterinary equipment.
The trial continues.
