Man trained his pet dogs to fight with wild animals

A man who kept dogs for fighting wild animals has been ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

Martin Davidson has also been banned from owning animals for five years.

The 24-year-old had photos and videos of his dogs hunting at night and posing with injured and dead animals.

Davidson, of Lochore, Fife, admitted training his bull lurchers Tramp, Mojo and Sid and Staffordshire bull terrier Lady to fight animals, including badgers, when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in August.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of his animals.

Davidson was sentenced on Friday, and also had four dogs taken away from him.

Inspectors from the Scottish SPCA and officers from Police Scotland went to Davidson’s home with a warrant on September 11, 2019.

They found a Staffordshire bull terrier in the house and three brindle bull lurchers in a small kennel and run in the backyard.

All had scarring to their muzzles, lower jaws and damage to their teeth.

Specialist vets who examined the dogs said the injuries were consistent with hunting for badgers and foxes or other animals, as well as injuries from fences and other obstacles.

The fresher wounds on the lurchers were consistent with dog bites and were likely to have been caused by being held in a kennel that was too small.

Sara Shaw, head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said after the sentencing: “Dog fighting is a cruel, illegal activity which causes terrible and unnecessary suffering to animals.

“I welcome today’s sentence and the granting of the order preventing Martin Davidson from keeping any animal for five years.

“COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on dog fighting to contact the police or the Scottish SPCA.”

A Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector, who cannot be named due to undercover operations, previously said their investigation found Davidson had videos showing his dogs attacking foxes and posing with injured and dead animals.

He said: “Multiple images were discovered of his dogs pictured with dead animals at night. Some featured the dogs viciously gripping foxes between their jaws.

“During interview, Davidson admitted that the four dogs were not registered with a vet and did not receive any medication or treatment to ease their suffering from any of the injuries they had sustained

“Other photos showed Lady, Tramp, Mojo and Sid in the back of Davidson’s vehicle at night with fresh injuries.

“Our expert vets determined these were consistent with animal fighting, specifically with badgers and foxes.”

He said they also found animal fighting paraphernalia at Davidson’s residence, including hunting gear, blood-stained wellies and a spot lamp commonly used for lamping with dogs, which is hunting at night.