Man Sentenced For Getting Dog DRUNK

by **J The Kidd** Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:27 pm

A man who beat his dog and gave it dangerous amounts of beer has been given a community service order.

Bronx, a five-year-old bull mastiff, had an injury to his head and was staggering around in a confused state when he was rescued by the RSPCA.

Vets said the amount of alcohol in his system was at a dangerous level and it was only his strength that enabled him to survive.

Andrew Wilson, 30, of Ringwood Crescent, Southmead, Bristol, admitted beating Bronx and giving him two-thirds of a can of Stella Artois.

He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday and banned from keeping warm blooded animals for one year.

RSPCA inspector Alan Barnes was called to rescue the five-year-old dog on June 5 last year after a tip-off.

He was taken to the RSPCA Bristol Dogs and Cats Home where he was treated by vet Mandy Stone.

She said: "Bronx had a nasty cut on his head and was staggering around, looking confused and generally depressed, it wasn't until Andrew Wilson was questioned and admitted that he gave Bronx alcohol that I realised why.

"He had a dangerous amount of alcohol in his body and had Bronx been a smaller dog, may not have survived."

Wilson is the first person to be successfully charged under Section 7 of The Animal Welfare Act 2006 which covers the administration of poisons or injurious drugs to a protected animal.

He was also ordered to pay $500 in costs.

RSPCA inspector Alan Barnes said: "Giving alcohol to any animal is extremely dangerous and it took Bronx a long time to recover from the effects of the drink as well as the cut he received.

"He's recovered well from the ordeal, although still suffers from a bad skin condition that vets are currently trying to diagnose".