Drunk ‘punched’ dog
WOMAN SUBJECTED HER PET TO BRUTAL ACT OF CRUELTY
Reporter A DRUNK pet owner beat, punched and kicked her small dog in an “intolerable” act of cruelty in the middle of a street.
Jill McMahon dangled helpless Jack Russell Maggie in the air by her lead, which was around her neck, and attacked her in front of horrified onlookers.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the 49-year-old was seen to repeatedly hit and punch the elderly dog in the face and neck with such force she “nearly fell over” before kicking it in the stomach.
But, the violence didn’t end there and when the terrified animal finally managed to slip her lead as she dangled in the air by her neck, McMahon pinned her to the ground and continued the attack.
The drunk brute was eventually stopped when a shocked witness called the police and she was arrested.
Now, magistrates have jailed McMahon for 16 weeks and described her actions as “intolerable” after she pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
The court heard McMahon launched her attack on 12-year-old Maggie on Molineux Street, near Shields Road, in Byker on September 2 last year.
Anna Barker, prosecuting, said: “The witness saw the defendant sitting on the kerb with a dog on a lead.
“The witness described the defendant suddenly hitting the dog with an open hand a couple of times. She then punched the dog with full force to the lower neck.
“The defendant then got up to walk away but she then kicked the dog in the stomach. She then lifted it up off the ground by its lead and she hit it three or four times with such force, she nearly fell over.
“There are further kicks then the dog managed to slip its collar but the defendant pinned it to the floor and hit it to the face two or three times.”
A shocked onlooker phoned the police and the court heard officers arrested McMahon and Maggie was taken to a vet, where she was found to have swelling and was given intravenous painkillers. Sadly, the dog later died due to an infection rather than the injuries.
In interview, McMahon told officers she was so drunk she had no memory of the incident.
Neil Connell, mitigating, said McMahon had suffered abuse throughout her childhood and as an adult and also had a drug and alcohol problem.
He said: “She loved the dog dearly and I know from being at court on the last occasion when she learned of the passing of Maggie and the effect that had on her. She was so distressed the case had to be adjourned.”
McMahon was also banned from keeping animals for five years and ordered to pay £500 costs.