Angry boyfriend lashed out and kicked puppy ‘like inanimate object’

A man became so irate after his girlfriend’s puppy pooed in the house that he kicked it in the head so hard he fractured its skull.

Andrew Cook, a bricklayer, left the Staffordshire bull terrier with two broken bones, severe bruising around its eye, a brain injury and internal bleeding.

It was unable even to lift its head after the attack.

The grey dog, named Bronson, is still recovering at home with his owner, Paige Bowden, over five months after the incident and after £5,000-worth of veterinary treatment.

Cook, 28, had kicked Branson ‘as if it was an inanimate object’ after the dog went to the toilet in the house, in one of the worst cases the RSPCA team had seen ‘in a long time’, magistrates heard.

Paige came back to their house in Waterlooville, Hampshire, to find the injured puppy, but Cook claimed Bronson was ‘just sulking’ after being hurt by another dog on a walk.

Sarah Huck, prosecuting for the RSPCA at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court said Cook later threatened to stamp on the dog’s head to ‘finish him off so there were no vets bills to pay’.

Paige broke up with Cook – who is the father of her ‘young son’ – after he attacked the dog.

Cook, who owns a brickwork business, was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £400 to the RSPCA with a £115 victim surcharge.

He has so far paid £1,500 towards the cost of the puppy’s treatment, and told the court he would pay off the remaining costs.

Cook admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

His lawyer, Howard Barrington-Clark, said: ‘The defendant wasn’t thinking straight and accepts it was completely wrong – he accepts complete guilt.’

Magistrates banned Cook from keeping, looking after, or arranging transport for any animals for life.

He must now attend 21 sessions designed to reduce violent behaviour, complete 20 hours of rehabilitation activities and do 100 hours of unpaid work.

RSPCA inspector Charlotte Coggins said: ‘I have worked really hard on this case and it is a tragic case – the worst we have seen in a long time. The injuries are absolutely awful.

‘We feel we’ve got justice for the dog today and I’m really happy with that.

‘Thankfully Bronson is recovering absolutely fine and he is back with his owner where, undoubtedly, he will be getting all the love he needs.’