Video and picture show moment man attacked 'XL Bully' dog outside flats in Sheffield
Animal has been ‘put to sleep’ under dog laws
Pictures and video show the moment a man kicked and hit his ’XL Bully’ dog outside flats in Sheffield.
The photos and footage led to a prosecution by the RSPCA, and was used in evidence as a 24 year old was banned from keeping dogs and given a suspented jail term.
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The RSPCA investigated after footage showing the man launching an attack on the bullbreed dog in the hallway of a block of flats at Hyde Park Terrace, near Park Hill, on October 4, 2023, was passed to the charity by a housing manager.
An RSPCA officer who attended the flat at which the attacker had been seen entering found the defendant, Mason Sestanovich, was keeping a dog, called Chicago, in unsuitable conditions in a crate without bedding or water.
Sestanovich, aged 24, of Stanwell Walk, Wincobank, pleaded guilty to inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and intimidatory behaviour on the canine under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on May 1.
As well as the disqualification, Sestanovich received a 16-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months with the requirement he also completes 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.
A vet who examined Chicago said that a full-body scan showed no evidence of any historic injuries, but blood tests did indicate the dog had suffered stress, which was possibly from the physical beating and the vet added: “During the beating (on the footage) it was obvious the dog was scared as she was cowering and defecating.”
A clinical behaviourist at the RSPCA, who examined the footage, said: “Chicago was grabbed roughly and beaten and the dog’s body language expressed extreme fear and the violence of the man’s gestures indicates the blows were delivered to the dog with extreme violence and caused pain.”
Sestanovich claimed Chicago was an XL bulldog although he refused to sign the canine over into the care of the RSPCA or register her which he was told he needed to do to comply with the new law.
Chicago was later typed as an XL bully when she was assessed at a rehoming centre and sadly due to the current Government legislation on ‘typed’ dogs she had to be put to sleep.
The court was told that Sestanovich regretted his actions and was ashamed of his behaviour towards the dog. He was told to pay £400 court costs and a victim surcharge of £154.