SSPCA welcome sentence handed to beast
A Scottish SPCA inspector has told of the charity’s efforts in bringing a Craigneuk man to justice.
As well as being sentenced to 21 weeks in prison, Conran Connor was given a 15 year ban on owning and/or being in control of any animal for keeping and training his three dogs for animal fighting following a Scottish SPCA investigation.
Knives were found in 20-year old Connor’s home with badger blood and DNA.
Connor, confessed to keeping his three dogs, two deerhound lurchers and a bull terrier, for animal fighting.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, a Scottish SPCA undercover Special Investigation Unit (SIU) inspector said, “We became aware of Connor following an enquiry into an abandoned Patterdale terrier, found in the Carnwath/Carluke area, which had injuries consistent with badger baiting and fighting. The dog had to be euthanised due to the extent of his injuries.
“Our investigation led to the home of Connor and with a warrant, we discovered evidence to suggest he was engaging in animal fighting.
“We recovered proof that Connor had
Animal welfare officers who raided Conran Connor’s home rescued two injured lurchers.
It’s feared another dog used for fighting died from an infected wound.
Connor, 21, of Gateside Road, Craigneuk, was sent to prison for 21 weeks and banned from having any contact with animals for 15 years.
He admitted keeping dogs for fighting, causing them to fight badgers and asking another man to film the gruesome activity.
Sheriff Mhairi Mactaggart told Connor: “These offences are, on any objective view, cruel and barbaric in the extreme. They have no place in a civilised society.
“Given their serious nature, the period of time over which the offences were committed and the injuries caused to these animals, my view is that nothing other than custody is appropriate.”
Keith Jones, prosecuting, told Hamilton Sheriff Court that Scottish SPCA inspectors and police officers raided Connor’s home in May 2017.
They found evidence that linked him to dog fighting over the previous eight months. This included mobile held conversations specific to purchasing dogs for, and discussing, animal fighting.
“Other items recovered from the house included numerous magazines and books relating specifically to hunting and fighting dogs with wild animals,, hunting clothes, devices used to lure foxes called fox callers, a torch identical to one found during the excavation of a badger sett, and knives, many of which were subsequently found to have badger blood and DNA.”
Multiple items found matched those in Connor’s possession of him posing with dead wild animals and his three dogs.
The SIU inspector added: “Other images confirmed his presence at badger baiting sites and showed his own dogs at the entrance to a badger sett. There were also men digging into the ground at night in woodland. This is an activity carried out as part of the badger baiting process.
“Other pictures include a dog with injuries consistent with badger fighting.
“We welcome the sentence handed down to Connor. He engaged in depraved acts that showed his complete disregard for animal welfare.
“He caused extreme levels of suffering to the wild animals involved and put his three dogs at great risk of injury or death, and failed to get any veterinary treatment when they were injured.”