An Accrington man was convicted of animal cruelty after disturbing CCTV footage captured him repeatedly hitting, kicking and dragging his seven-month-old German Shepherd puppy outside his home.
Daniel Blake Monaghan was prosecuted after recordings revealed multiple incidents involving his puppy, Chase, outside his flat on Whalley Road, Accrington.
The footage showed Monaghan striking Chase on the head with a rucksack, standing on his lead while hitting him on the back, kicking him into a sitting position and pulling him backwards until he fell.
He was also captured kicking the puppy on his hind leg.
Chase’s reaction to the treatment was clear on the recordings. The young dog was seen walking away in a crouched and fearful posture, with his tail tucked underneath him and avoiding eye contact with Monaghan.
The footage was reported to the RSPCA, which launched an investigation.
Inspector Daniel Tomlinson described what had been captured as upsetting and said Chase appeared lean, subdued and clearly distressed.
Police attended the property and removed Chase for his safety.
A vet who reviewed the footage concluded that Chase was suffering, or was likely to suffer further if his circumstances did not change, and that Monaghan had failed to protect the puppy from injury, pain and suffering.
Chase was subsequently taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment, and ownership was later legally transferred to the charity so he could be rehomed.
A new life for Chase
Thankfully, Chase’s story did not end with the abuse.
After being rehomed and renamed Wolfie, he settled into life with another German Shepherd and underwent a remarkable transformation.
He gained almost 10kg in just eight weeks, eventually reaching 39kg.
His new owner described him as initially forlorn and sad but said he flourished with proper care, enjoying long walks through the woods and becoming increasingly confident.
Sentencing
Monaghan received a 12-month community order, including 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days.
He was also ordered to pay £200 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Most significantly for Chase and other animals, Monaghan was banned from keeping animals for ten years, with the disqualification running until 2036.
