A Woman caught Abusing A Dog

 WOMAN who was captured on video footage beating and kicking her dog in several locations across Milton Keynes has been handed a lifetime ban from keeping animals.

Hayley Smith, 37, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act and appeared for sentencing at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on July 13.

The court heard how the RSPCA launched an investigation after footage of Smith’s abuse of her Staffordshire bull terrier, called Angel, was captured by several members of the public.

RSPCA inspector Prisca Giddens said in a statement to the court that in September last year she analysed video clips that were sent to the charity by someone who saw a black and white Staffordshire bull terrier being beaten in the city.

There were reports of similar incidents taking place from the end of July 2022 in which a woman was seen hitting her dog.

A member of the public, who had recognised the defendant as living in a flat in the Fairfields area of the city, took several pieces of video footage of her interaction with the canine, some of which showed the dog being dragged along on a lead and appearing to be lame.

Another member of the public captured two pieces of video of the dog being attacked several times by a woman at a bus stop.

It showed the dog being kicked in the chest and the chin and also stamped on before the woman lashed out so the dog’s head hit the frame of the bus stop.

On October 6 last year, the defendant was found by the police, who seized Angel and placed her in the care of the RSPCA.

A vet said in an expert report presented to the court that he was satisfied that the dog had suffered on several occasions because of physical abuse, while she was not provided with any vet care for her lameness.

In mitigation, the court was told Smith was ‘very remorseful’ for abusing her dog. She was said to have suffered mental abuse from her former partner and was homeless, while she also had problems with drug addiction

As well as the disqualification from owning animals, Smith also received an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days

Angel has spent time in a foster home since her ordeal and will be rehomed by the RSPCA.

“Angel is a sweetie, a really lovely dog who has been looked after by fosterers and now we will find her a loving new home,” said Inspector Giddens.