A MAN has admitted keeping five dogs for the purpose of animal fighting, the Crown Office said.
Andrew Mullen, 37, from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was found to have more than 300 photographs of dogs fighting with foxes, badgers and other animals on his laptop.
At Lanark Sheriff Court today, he pleaded guilty to the offences, which took place between January 1 2009 and March 31 2010.
Mullen was caught when officers from Strathclyde Police and the Scottish SPCA raided his home.
Three lurchers, a terrier and a brown terrier-type puppy were found in kennels in the back garden.
At least three of the dogs had injuries or scarring consistent with fox or badger fighting, while one of the dogs’ injuries were specific to badger fighting and were said to be only a few weeks old. All five are now being cared for by the Scottish SPCA.
A Toshiba laptop was seized from Mullen’s home, which contained 340 images showing the organised baiting of dogs onto foxes, deer and badgers.
Some of the images show dead foxes being held up or laid on the ground, apparently as trophies.
Mullen was said to have claimed that he kept the dogs as pets and denied actively using them to fight badgers. He accepted that he allowed others to use them and that he knew the dogs he kept were to be used on badgers.
Area procurator fiscal Tom Dysart, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service lead on wildlife and environmental crime, said: “The dogs found in Mullen’s garden had multiple injuries and scars which showed they had been involved in recent and historic fights with badgers and foxes.
“Dogs used for animal fights suffer terrible injuries, some of which can be fatal. They rarely receive appropriate veterinary treatment.
“The animals who are set upon by these dogs also suffer dreadful injuries, if they are not killed outright. Badgers in particular are given special protection by law, which makes attacks on them even more heinous.
“In pleading guilty, Mullen has accepted his disregard for the wellbeing of his dogs and of the animals with which they could be forced to fight.
“Welfare laws exist to protect our animals and Scotland’s prosecutors will take robust action against anyone who flouts them.
“Neither will offences against Scotland’s wildlife be tolerated and perpetrators can expect to find themselves in court.”
Mullen will be sentenced on March 1 at Lanark Sheriff Court.