Charity fury over animal abuser’s ban
THE Scottish SPCA has hit out after a pet owner who left his dog with horrific injuries in beatings escaped a lifetime ownership ban or prison.
The animal charity was alerted to evil John Haxton after neighbours reported seeing him abusing Staffordshire bull terrier cross Roxy in the street.
SSPCA inspectors visited Haxton’s home in Edinburgh’s Murrayburn Green but found no evidence and could only issue a warning.
But in May 2020, two members of the public spotted the 29-year-old viciously beating Roxy in the street and intervened by taking her from him.
The dog was taken to a vet, where medics found she was bleeding from the eye, had cuts across her body and her neck had significant swelling.
A further examination revealed she was suffering from blindness caused by blunt force trauma, arthritis and a serious hip injury as the result of a kick.
Due to her “immense pain and suffering”, vets decided to put Roxy to sleep.
Haxton, who now lives in Dysart, Fife, has been handed a five-year ban on owning pets as well as a 300-hour community payback order.
Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona Thorburn said: “We had hoped he would never be allowed to care for an animal ever again.”