Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Man who filmed dogs savaging boar is jailed
AMAN who filmed two dogs mauling a wild boar to death before bragging about the brutal killing on social media has been jailed.
Luke Rix, 32, stabbed the terrified animal before setting the snarling hounds on it while he filmed the harrowing attack on his phone.
Former gamekeeper Rix is heard encouraging the dogs, saying: “Look at that boys, big pig, go on boys.”
He was caught when his ex-girlfriend stumbled across the disturbing video on his iPad.
Police were called and raided his home along with RSPCA inspectors who seized the device.
A number of videos and photographs were found including a clip showing two dogs – including Rix’s dog Gunner – mauling the boar.
The dogs can be seen latched onto the neck area of the boar as it screams in pain and distress.
Another film included conversations about the boar hunt, which had taken place in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
Other seized videos and photos showed dogs ripping apart a fox, dogs with injuries and terriers tormenting a caged rat. The films were made between October 1 and November 3 last year.
Rix, of Oxhill, Warwickshire, admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the wild boar and the dogs, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.
He was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping dogs for ten years when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Gloucestershire Police found the sick videos during a raid at a house in Broadwell, Moreton-InMarsh, Gloucestershire.
A veterinary expert told the court the boar would have experienced intense pain until it lost consciousness due to blood loss.
In her statement, the vet said: “The dogs have control of the boar which as a result is unable to escape from the situation and is therefore under the control of Rix.
“The dogs were placed into a situation with the wild boar where their safety and welfare were compromised and as a result the black dog sustained injuries.”
The vet who examined Gunner found he had a fracture of the upper right canine, missing upper incisors and had lower worn lower incisors.
The dog also had dental disease that was so severe the vet said he would have been in constant pain for three years. Following his rescue, Gunner had to have more than 20 teeth removed.
When he was quizzed by police Rix said he had always hunted and had previously been a gamekeeper.
Prosecutor Lindi Meyer, who represented the RSPCA, said: “Photos, videos and conversations which were seized together show that he engages in hunting activity with all his dogs whether boar, rats, or foxes and that this is done for sport which he then glorifies by boasting and sharing on social media.
“There is a very high risk of reoffending if he is allowed to have dogs, not least due to his lifestyle and peer groups.
“He has shown no regard for their welfare and has put them in a position where they too get injured – not just the animal being hunted. He had not sought veterinary assistance for Gunner for the past three years.
“Rix showed no remorse for his actions and believes hunting to be a way of life.”
Rix said he was going through a difficult time in his life because of the breakdown of a relationship and issues with his business.
Rix was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.