Sick badger baiter left pet dogs suffering “horrendous” injuries

Sean Garland, of Blackfolds farm, Dufftown, has been banned for keeping animals for 10-years after the SSPCA were tipped off about his actvities.

14th June 2024

A sick badger baiter whose dogs were left suffering “horrendous” injuries has been banned from keeping or working with any animals for 10-years.

Sean Garland, of Blackfolds farm, Dufftown, was also handed 200 hours of community service when he was sentenced at Elgin Sheriff Court on Thursday.

The 38-year-old plead guilty to keeping three dogs for the purposes of animal fighting and failing to obtain veterinary treatment for facial injuries causing unnecessary suffering to two Patterdale terriers named Midge and Muff.

The Scottish SSPCA began investigating Garland when they received a report accusing him of keeping dogs for the purposes of animal fights and in particular using his dogs to bait badgers and other wildlife.

It was suspected that he was in the possession of dogs that had facial injuries who had never been treated by a veterinary surgeon.

A Scottish SPCA specialist investigation officer said: “Due to the immediate and real concern for the welfare of the dogs being kept the premises were searched.

“Within kennels we found a black Patterdale terrier named Muff who was around 12 years of age. She had very obvious facial injuries to her lower lip; nose and chin area. Her upper lip had an old wound that extended up to the nasal area. There were numerous healed marks and scars and old healed injuries around her jaw area, muzzle and nose area. The injuries were consistent with having been caused and inflicted by a badger and fox.”

The animal welfare charity also found a young brown Patterdale terrier called Midge who was found within a small crate. Midge had very obvious facial injuries to her lower lip; chin and muzzle area. Her nose appeared to be distorted with a ‘dent’ with deep scarring to the bridge of the nose.

During the search of Garland’s a bag containing two locating tracker collars and a locating box was found, which are used for badger baiting and fox hunting.

“Both dogs were removed from the premises for immediate veterinary treatment to be carried out,” an inspector explained.

“The vet examined both Muff and Midge and concluded that they would have suffered unnecessarily when the injuries were inflicted and thereafter untreated.

“Both dogs had facial injuries consistent with repeated episodes of face to face combat with wild animals. While some of these injuries may have been fox-related, the more severe facial injuries including lower lip avulsions, missing and damaged teeth and nasal trauma and disfiguration as seen in Midge were more consistent with badger injuries.

The invstigation found that more than likely both of the dogs had been used for repeated episodes of hunting due to the varying nature and age of wounds that were differing ages and multiple in nature.

The third dog reported to the SSPCA was never seen by us but communication seized at the time indicated that the dog had died due to a broken jaw.

Following the sentence, the Scottish SPCA specialist investigator said: “We are satisfied that Garland received a 10-year ban on owning and keeping all animals though we had hoped for a custodial sentence. Both Midge and Muff suffered horrendous injuries that were left untreated and clearly caused them pain and distress over a long period.

“I would also like to thank Karon Rollo, Procurator Fiscal Depute, Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit for her dedication to this case and to Lucy Webster from SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) for assisting with the DNA collecting to show the use of badger and fox DNA in this case.”

Midge and Muff have since been rehomed.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sick-badger-baiter-left-pet-33024767