A MAN who filmed his dogs attacking other animals, including a pet cat, has been jailed for a year and banned from owning animals.
Brandon Robb, 28, was sentenced after admitting a string of wildlife offences at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, with police describing his actions as “despicable”.
Robb filmed his Lurcher dogs as they hunted and preyed upon wild animals – including deer, rabbits, hares, a fox cub and a domestic cat – before uploading some of the footage to social media.
Prosecutors said there were more than 20 separate incidents in 2022, taking place at night in woods and farmland around Perth and Kinross.Iain Batho, wildlife crime lead at the Crown Office, said: “It is highly important to preserve Scotland’s natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. As such, wild animals are given strict protection by our law.
“Brandon Robb’s actions had no purpose or motive other than to fulfil his own desire to inflict pain and suffering on innocent animals.
“The shocking cruelty, quantity and frequency of these incidents will inevitably have had a detrimental effect on the local wildlife population.
“(The Crown Office) takes the prosecution of wildlife crime extremely seriously and prosecutorial action will be taken if there is sufficient evidence, if it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so.”
Constable Ben Pacholek of Police Scotland said: “Immense suffering was caused by Robb to these animals.
“During our inquiries, evidence was obtained from his mobile phone showing how he instructed his dogs to chase the animals and then encouraged them to keep attacking, resulting in horrific injuries and death. He also caused suffering to his own dogs.”
He said the investigation was made difficult as the killings were carried out at night, making locations hard to identify.
Constable Pacholek added: “Through dedicated police work, the investigation team was able to show that Robb was responsible for his dogs causing unprecedented suffering over several weeks.
“He boasted about the prowess of his dogs and gloried in the suffering of the animals he ordered them to harm. His actions were despicable.”
