Dog owner bit his pet while high on drugs

PUBLIC ALERT POLICE TO ABUSE OF ANIMAL

A DOG suffered horrific injuries to his face, eyes and ears after he was bitten by his stoned owner.

Diesel, an eight-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, was seized by police after members of the public reported seeing the dog being assaulted by a male in North Tyneside.

Officers attended the home of the dog’s owner, Tyler Laverick, in North Shields and found the injured pet inside.

A court heard that, when asked how he suffered the visible wounds to his head, 20-year-old Laverick responded by saying “I was biting him, I was stoned”.

Diesel was seized and taken to a nearby vets while the case was reported to the RSPCA and Laverick, of Front Terrace, North Shields, was cautioned and arrested for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He failed to show at a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Friday and the offence was proved in his absence.

Judith Curry, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said police initially attended Front Terrace on October 19 after reports from members of the public that a male had been seen assaulting a dog in a car outside Laverick’s home.

Officers traced the registered keeper of the car and found it to be Laverick.

Ms Curry said: “When the constables arrived at the address, a male answered the door. The male was Tyler Laverick. He was asked if he had a dog on the premises. He replied he had a staffie that was not OK.

“The constables entered and found a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with visible facial injuries. Tyler Laverick stated to the officer that he had bitten the dog. He was cautioned and arrested for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.”

The court heard that Laverick then told officers he had been smoking cannabis and, when asked about the condition of Diesel, he replied: “Not good, I was biting him, I was stoned”.

Diesel was taken to the vets where a catalogue of injuries were noted, which included:

Puncture wounds to his tongue PROSECUTOR JUDITH CURRY

Significant trauma to the nose, which was bleeding and had the whole surface of skin removed Multiple scars to his muzzle Multiple wounds to his muzzle Swelling to the left side of the jaw Bleeding in the whites of his eyes Scratches and puncture wounds on his ears, which were bleeding A small wound to the left foreleg Multiple scars to the left foreleg The vet who examined the dog Staffordshire bull terrier Diesel was found to have multiple injuries, pictures of which are too graphic to publish concluded that the wounds to his head were consistent with bluntforce trauma, while the injuries to his ears and nose were consistent with coming from bites. Ms Curry added: “The vet believes that Diesel was suffering on the night of October 19 2017 due to injuries allegedly caused by his owner.

“There was also evidence of previous trauma, which indicates he may have suffered previously, however, due to the nature of the scars, it’s impossible to no how these were caused.”

Magistrates found the case against Laverick proved in his absence and, because the offence is punishable by a possible prison sentence, they issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was arrested and brought before the court, where he was bailed to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on April 27.