Man who repeatedly punched cowering pet banned from keeping animals

Owner given year-long community order and ordered to pay nearly £900

A man who repeatedly punched his cowering pet dog has been given a 12-month community order.

Kieran Huelin, 36, hit and hurled a torrent of abuse at the Staffordshire bull terrier at his home in Bolton in June.

The RSPCA investigated after being sent a video showing Huelin attacking the dog, named Rosie.

In the clip Huelin hits the animal a number of times while it is on a chair.

Huelin, of Halliwell, Bolton, was also banned from keeping dogs for five years and ordered to pay £800 costs, with an £85 victim surcharge, at Bolton Magistrates’ Court.

The 12-month community sentence includes an alcohol treatment order.

Huelin admitted an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, which places a duty of care on people to ensure they meet their animals’ welfare needs.

The maximum penalty under the Act is six months’ jail, although this is due to rise to five years under revived legislation now going through parliament.

Danni Jennings, of the RSPCA, said after last week’s hearing: “Training should always be reward-based and should not include physical punishment.

“Rosie is a lovely and bouncy dog in real life but on this footage she is quite the opposite.”