Man and woman caught abusing dogs banned from having animals

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

A man and a woman have been banned from keeping animals after shocking footage showed them kicking their two dogs and hitting them with a broom.

Martin Butters, 61, and Kristine Viksnina, 42, attacked and swung at their pets Honey, a one-year-old Golden Labrador and Lilu, a six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier.

Neighbors first became concerned about the animals as they had a plastic shelter in the backyard but lived outside in all weather, including snow and ice, and at night.

Bradford Magistrates Court heard footage from Boxing Day 2022 was then captured, which showed Butters kicking Honey, who yelped and walked away limping.

In February last year, they attacked Honey with a wheely bin twice which meant the dogs were unable to access the kennel.

A month later, they were seen attempting to run away from Viksnina, who attacked Honey and picked up Lilu with one hand by her neck.

Another shocking clip showed an unknown object being hurled into the yard, which hit Honey on her rear end.

Butters was also seen swinging at the dogs with a long-handed sweeping brush before one of them cries out for help.

The videos showed both dogs displaying body language consistent with fear, making attempts to escape and hide with their tails between their legs, the court was told.

RSPCA Inspector Demi Hogby went to the house with police on April 3 last year after witnesses who were concerned about the dogs’ welfare contacted the charity.

In her evidence to the court Inspector Hogby, said Honey and Lilu were "both very nervous", especially around a male police officer.

She said: “I said (to Viksnina) that we had been sent a number of videos of the dogs being beaten which had been assessed by a vet who had then advised that both dogs were suffering and therefore they would need to be removed from the address.

"I observed the dogs in the yard.

"Both of them were very nervous, particularly around the male police officer who was in attendance."

In his written statement to the court, the vet who viewed the footage said: "A number of videos indicate that both dogs were handled inappropriately on a number of occasions and were subjected to physical abuse.

"Martin Butters and Kristine Viksnina indicated that their behavior towards the dogs, Honey in particular, was as a consequence of unwanted behavioral traits such as eating feces and chewing up bedding.

"I have not had sight of any documents that indicate veterinary or professional dog behavior/training advice was sought by them in an attempt to appropriately address those behavioural issues

“The majority of the physical abuse appears to have been directed towards Honey.

"However this appears to have often taken place in the presence of Lilu who also showed body language consistent with experiencing fear at those times.

"In my opinion, they have been caused to suffer on a number of occasions as a consequence of inappropriate handling by the person(s) responsible for their welfare.

"Suffering will have been experienced by these two dogs via mechanisms of fear and distress in addition to physical pain on occasion that they were subjected to physical abuse for variable periods of time.”

In mitigation, Viksnina blamed her behavior on Butters and said she had owned dogs for over eight years without any problems.

Butters, who represented himself in court, apologized for his actions but said he couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.

They both pleaded guilty to two offenses contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at earlier hearings and were disqualified from keeping animals for 12 years.

The pair, of Bradford, West Yorks, were given a suspended sentence to include 100 hours of unpaid work and told to pay costs of £243 and a victim surcharge of £157.

Lilu and Honey were cared for at the RSPCA's Doncaster, Rotherham and district branch and have both found new homes.

Speaking after the case, Inspector Hogby said: "We’re grateful to those who reported their concerns for Honey and Lilu to us.

"Both dogs were subjected to unacceptable physical and emotional abuse and we’re pleased to have been able to help ensure they now have much brighter futures ahead of them."

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