Animal cruelty unit claim 6-month jail term was too easy on sick badger baiter
Scotland’s “worst ever” badger baiter has been caged for six months – but animal cruelty investigators claim he should have been given up to five years in jail.
Callum Muir, 25, used three dogs to fight badgers and foxes, which usually ended with the wild animals dying in agony after desperately battling for their lives.
Videos showed Muir, from Logan, laughing as animals were slaughtered and as an accomplice jumped on the head of one fox.
His own dogs – terrier Pip, lurcher Bella and bull lurcher Mig – also suffered terrible injuries.
At Ayr Sheriff Court, Muir was given just six months, but Sheriff Siobhan Connelly said his crimes were at the most serious end of the spectrum. She admitted he could have faced a far longer sentence if the Crown had taken the case to a higher court.
She said: “The evidence of veterinary surgeons was that the dogs had injuries consistent with animal fights and they would have suffered considerably as a result.
“The other animals would have suffered violent and traumatic deaths. You must have known the harm, pain and suffering caused.”
Maximum sentence at summary level is 12 months. The sheriff said she would have given him nine months if he had not pled guilty.
Evidence showed at least nine incidents of animals being forced to fight over six months.
An inspector from SSPCA’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU)said he had hoped for a far more severe sentence. It is understood investigators were dismayed that the case was only taken forward at summary level – indicating that the Crown did not believe it was serious enough to go higher.
He said: “Given the sheer level of suffering endured by Muir’s dogs, countless wild animals and the depravity of the videos and images he owned, we are disappointed he has not received a longer jail sentence.
“Legislation has now come into effect which means offenders can receive up to five-year sentences for animal welfare crimes.
“We’ve been involved in thousands of criminal cases and this ranks as one of the worst.”
The inspector, who has worked on hundreds of cases, said Muir’s catalogue of “trophy” videos and photographs was the worst he’d encountered. The inspector said: “The evidence we found at Muir’s home was consistent with what you’d find when someone is heavily involved in animal fighting.”
His dogs had significant injuries on their faces. Pip and Bella, the two older dogs, had injuries across their neck and legs. Both dogs had several missing teeth, and the lack of veterinary treatment would have made the suffering even worse.
“Mig had some scarring to her muzzle and legs but as she was a much larger, stronger and younger dog it’s likely she’d been able to avoid serious injury up to this point,” the inspector added.
The SIU recovered a number of videos and images from Muir showing dogs, including his own pets, fighting wild animals. The inspector earlier said: “In my line of work you see a lot of stomach-churning examples of animal cruelty, but the videos and images relating to this case are among the worst I’ve ever seen.
“The disregard for the wellbeing of the dogs and wild animals in the videos is appalling. In many of them,
Muir can be heard encouraging his dogs to attack wild animals as they scream in pain.
“In one clip, he laughs as a fox’s skin is torn away and they are ripped in half by dogs.
“In another, two of his dogs attack a fox while a man stamps on its head as Muir laughs.”
All three dogs were signed over into the care of the SSPCA and have since found new homes. In April 2021, the SSPCA received intelligence Muir was using dogs in animal fights. On May 4, the SIU executed a warrant at his home and seized the three dogs.
At the property, there was evidence that he was self-treating his dog’s injuries, which most individuals who are involved in animal fighting will do to avoid the authorities being alerted.
The SIU found several items associated with animal fighting, including locator collars which are used to track dogs when they are underground in badger setts.
Officers also discovered nets for catching wild animals when they bolt from their den. This evidence was analysed at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and fox and badger DNA was found.
The charity worked closely with Dr Lucy Webster from SASA, and the League Against Cruel Sports throughout the investigation.
Robbie Marsland, director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, said: “The league is pleased to have played a part in bringing Callum Muir, a horrific animal abuser, to justice and we commend the Scottish SPCA for such a comprehensive investigation.”
In my line of work you see lot of stomach churning examples of cruelty but videos and pics relating to this case are among worst I’ve ever seen Welfare inspector