Cruelty in Dewsbury: Father and Son Banned for Life After Dog Found Starving and Injured
Dewsbury—A father and son from Dewsbury have been banned from keeping animals for life after allowing a severely injured dog to suffer for days without any veterinary help.
Imran Ali, 39, and Junaid Ali, 20, cared for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Max. However, they left the dog to endure significant suffering instead of providing the necessary care.
When RSPCA animal rescue officers arrived at the Alis’ Broomer Street home, they found Max in a dire condition. The dog was lying in a wooden shelter in an outdoor run, covered in blood, and too weak to walk. Blood was seeping from a wound on his neck, and the officers—Hannah Williams and Jenny Anderson—had to carry him to their van to transport him to the vet.
“Max was very wobbly on his feet, and he would not walk out of his shelter, so we used treats to entice him out,” said Animal Rescue Officer Williams. “He had blood covering most of his neck, front legs, paws, and shoulder, and there was a strong, pungent smell, possibly of infection, while Max’s ribs, hips, and spine were visible. When I asked Junaid Ali how long the dog had been like this, he replied, ‘Two days’ and then ‘One week, maybe.'”
Due to the severity of Max’s injuries, a vet decided that the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep, ending his suffering.
Imran and Junaid Ali both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to provide veterinary treatment and by failing to address Max’s weight loss and pressure sores. They also admitted failing to meet the dog’s basic needs.
The pair appeared before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on August 6, receiving life-long bans from owning animals. During the hearing, the court heard how RSPCA officers had initially visited the Broomer Street home on December 22, 2023, following reports of a dog collapsing. RSPCA Inspector Adam Dickinson later returned on January 2, 2024, and Imran Ali requested that a planned interview be delayed until the post-mortem results were available.
“The defendant said they walked Max all the time, but recently, he had refused to leave his kennel and had begun losing weight,” said Inspector Dickinson. “He provided worming tablets, but there were no improvements. Ali had not seen Max leave his kennel for days, so he pulled him out and found him covered in blood. Ali thought the injuries were from the kennel or from rats in the area, but he could not afford to do anything, so he asked his son to contact the RSPCA.”
A post-mortem and clinical examination revealed that Max had six puncture wounds across his shoulders, likely inflicted by another dog. The wounds were infected, and Max was found to be emaciated, with a body condition score of just one out of nine. He also had pressure sores on his wrist, elbow, ankle, and pelvis, likely caused by being unable to move for an extended period.
In mitigation, the court heard that Junaid Ali has severe learning difficulties. Although Imran Ali was not Max’s primary owner, he should have taken greater responsibility for the dog’s care.
Imran Ali was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 300 hours of unpaid work. Junaid Ali was ordered to complete ten rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work. Both were instructed to pay £400 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Williams stated, “Max would have experienced severe physical pain at the time these injuries were inflicted, but he was left for days in severe discomfort when he was unable to get out of his kennel. Owners have a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide prompt vet treatment for their pets. A responsible owner would also have gone to the vet if their dog became underweight and if they developed pressure sores. These defendants failed to take any course of action, and this poor dog was given no pain relief and did not receive any medical treatment. By the time one of them contacted the RSPCA, it was too late.”
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