Man sentenced to five year ban on keeping dogs

We are urging people to report concerns of animal cruelty and welfare after a man was sentenced for three animal welfare offences last month, which came to light following calls by concerned members of the public.

This follows the conviction of Shawn Power, 42, of Addlestone Road, Addlestone, for three animal welfare offences. He was sentenced on 25 May at Staines Magistrates Court to a five year ban on keeping dogs and a £200 fine. He was also deprived of the ownership of his two dogs.

Officers were called to Morrisons in Woking on Thursday 6 August 2020 after a man was seen “beating his dogs up and throwing them around and stuffing them into bags.”

Eyewitnesses told police that they saw the suspect chasing after a small brown dog who had run off from him outside Morrisons. He threw his backpack at one of the dogs, which hit it, then picked the dog up and started strangling and punching it whilst swearing at it. When members of the public intervened, the man started shouting and swearing at them, before he eventually walked off, stuffing the dog into his backpack and zipping it up.

Police located Power nearby on Goldsworth Road, and he was arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, not meeting an animal’s needs, and public order.

The two dogs, Bruno and Kizzy, were seized under Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. They were taken to a vet and examined. Their coat condition was poor and the vet was able to confirm animal welfare offences against Kizzy for strangulation and placing her in a bag on a hot day, and against Bruno for allowing him to run in and out of traffic.

Power was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, subject to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act, relating to strangling Kizzy. He was also found guilty of two counts of not meeting the needs of a protected animal subject to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act, relating to not providing the correct environment for the dogs by putting Kizzy in the bag and allowing Bruno to run into the road.

Power was fined £200 and disqualified from keeping dogs for five years. He was also prevented from retaining ownership of Bruno and Kizzy after police applied for an order to keep them under Section 33 of the Animal Welfare Act. Within a few days of the court result they were rehomed, and are now living a happy life with a new owner.

PC Hollie Iribar, Rural Crime Officer for Surrey, said, “I am very proud of the effort that the investigating officer put into this case.

Shawn Power treated Bruno and Kizzy awfully, and I am glad that his sentencing includes a disqualification from keeping dogs for five years.

“It must have been very distressing for the members of the public who witnessed this incident, but I am very grateful to the persons who called police, because this allowed us to use our powers under the Animal Welfare Act to protect these mistreated pets.

Bruno and Kizzy are the sweetest dogs, and are now recovering in their forever home.”

If you see an animal in distress and have immediate concerns for their welfare, please call police on 999.