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Joshua Evans, aged 19, of Slade Close, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA. The footage, taken through a doorbell camera, was shared with the RSPCA by a housing association and showed Evans inappropriately hitting, throwing, and aggressively handling two Cane Corse-type dogs. Two dogs, a female named Bella and a male named Buster, were seized by police and placed in the care of the RSPCA. Both dogs were found to be underweight. The vet who examined the dogs described in their report: "As witnessed in the videos, the dogs are not protected from pain and would have suffered through the mechanism of pain with the action of hitting, striking with a foot, and hitting onto a gate. "The dogs would have suffered through the mechanism of pain with the holding of the collar, placing all the dog's body weight on the neck, compressing vital structures such as jugular veins and the trachea. "The duration of suffering would have been acute to the time of striking and raising by the collar, but could extend up to 24 hours. "The dog was struck four times in one of the clips to the same location on the face." The vet added that both dogs were 'deemed to be quite slender', adding that their needs had not been met 'due to a failure to provide a suitable diet'. Bella also had bilateral prolapsed third eyelid glands, which would have been 'irritating'. Alongside a 10-year animal ban, which he can not appeal for seven years, Evans was also given a two-year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also ordered to pay £400 and a victim surcharge of £114 when he was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court on October 21. In mitigation, he said he was remorseful and sorry for his behaviour. He was said to have been drinking at the time and facing mental health challenges. RSPCA inspector Graeme Brookes, who investigated for the RSPCA, said: "Dogs feel pain and suffering just like we do and always deserve to be shown kindness and compassion at all times."
