Man seen kicking dog banned from keeping animals

A vet said Bella suffered lasting physical and emotional effects

A man caught on CCTV repeatedly kicking a bulldog has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Matthew Murray, 25, admitted the cruelty after footage showed him attacking the brown and tan bulldog, called Bella, in a garden in Bromborough, Wirral.

The dog suffered soft tissue injuries as a result of the incident on 29 December.

Murray, who told the RSPCA he was "feeling stressed at the time", was given the ban at Wirral Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

'Emotional impact'

The court heard how RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes had visited Ashfield Crescent after the incident was reported to the charity.

In the footage, Murray is seen running towards a fence and kicking out at the pet with his left leg, before stabilising himself and kicking her again with his other leg, causing her to yelp out in pain.

He was then heard shouting “get back in” before forcefully kicking and swearing again.

Bella is seen running back towards the house and away from Murray before twice crying out again once inside.

An investigation was launched after it was determined the dog would "be likely to suffer if her current circumstances didn’t change."

The pet was given pain relief for ongoing hip and spinal conditions at Greater Manchester Anima Hospital.

A vet said "the emotional impact may have a life-long effect" and it is "likely she will have been in pain for several days after being hit.”

The pet is in the process of being rehomed by the RSPCA

Murray, now of Bentinck Place, Birkenhead, was interviewed by the RSPCA in January when he fully accepted responsibility for what had happened.

He said he was "feeling stressed at the time because it was Boxing Day and he was running late to visit his family".

He said Bella had urinated in the kitchen prior to him going out and he had "lost his temper and kicked her out of anger" and that he knew it was wrong and regretted it.

The dog was signed over to the RSPCA by her owner during the course of the investigation.

Insp Joynes said: "Bella had run out of the house and into the street, which of course can be stressful and frustrating.

"But the violence, aggression and intimidating behaviour that followed was unacceptable, and this can be seen by Bella’s fearful response and her cries of pain.

"She is doing great in our care and will be looking for her new home very soon.”

Murray was also made subject to an 18-month community order and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work, as well as paying a victim surcharge of £114.