Dog ban for man who cut off puppies' tails

Spud the terrier was injured while hunting badgers but was left to suffer

A man who cut off the tails of puppies and failed to seek treatment for a terrier after it suffered "horrific" injuries has been banned from owning dogs for two years.

Daniel Eldridge, 61, of Glemsford, near Sudbury, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to three animal cruelty offences at Norwich Magistrates' Court on 12 September.

The court heard he had docked the tails of six puppies and neglected his Patterdale terrier Spud after he sustained "extremely painful" injuries during a badger hunt.

Eldridge, who was based on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border at a farm in Marshland St James, near Wisbech, at the time of the offences, was ordered to pay £1,000 and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Eldridge, of Tye Green, was also given a 12-month community order, which includes 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The judge told Eldridge: "[You had] deliberate disregard for the welfare of your dog."

The Patterdale terrier suffered his injuries while being attacked by a badger

According to the RSPCA, Eldridge removed or partially removed the tails of six puppies between 21 May 2021 and 12 June 2021.

Video and messaging evidence confirmed he had carried out the procedure, which is illegal unless permitted in strict circumstances.

The court also heard that Spud had sustained severe injuries to his lower jaw, consistent with bite wounds from a large mammal such as a badger.

Despite this, Eldridge failed to seek veterinary care for Spud on two occasions between 1 December 2021 and 15 January 2023, leaving him to suffer.

The injuries consisted of "torn, crushed and infected wounds" on the lips and chin and "would have been obvious to any reasonable owner".

"The failure to seek veterinary treatment has resulted in him experiencing unnecessary suffering," the RSPCA added.

'Horrific injuries'

The court was told Spud had sustained his injuries while being used for badger hunting, but Eldridge's lawyers claimed they occurred during legal hunts.

In mitigation, they said he suffered a brain injury in 2018 and was a man of good character.

But RSPCA chief inspector Will Mitchell said Spud had been "deliberately" put underground and suffered "horrific injuries" as a result.

"Not only does badger hunting involve barbaric cruelty against wildlife but [it] also results in traumatic injuries to the dogs involved," he said.

Spud has since recovered and has been rehomed by the RSPCA.