ALEX JOHNSON'S DOG ABUSE SCANDAL IN ABBEY HULTON AND STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a serious case that has shocked the communities of Abbey Hulton and Stoke-on-Trent, dog breeder and enthusiast Alex Johnson, born on January 26, 1990, and residing at 53 Elmsmere Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 8EF, has been found guilty of endangering the public through his handling of dogs and has been subsequently banned from owning or keeping canines for a period of five years.

Police investigations were initiated after an incident where a woman was bitten on her arm by a dog that Johnson was caring for. The woman sustained puncture wounds, prompting authorities to scrutinize Johnson’s activities with dogs. This led to the discovery of multiple videos that depicted Johnson engaging in potentially dangerous dog training practices.

Among the footage was a clip showing a dog attempting to scale a fence in pursuit of a toy, and another where a dog was seen jumping up and biting an arm sleeve while a whip was cracked on the ground nearby. Johnson, who also works as a professional dog photographer and participates in bare-knuckle fighting, claimed that these videos were part of his involvement in organized dog sports, which he argued was a legitimate activity.

The North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard that the woman was bitten by a Bully XL named Loyal at approximately 2:30 pm on June 16, 2018. Prosecutor Tom Griffiths stated, “The defendant told it to sit and when she went past, it bit her on the arm.”

In support of their case, Staffordshire Police presented three videos featuring Johnson and his dogs. One of these videos showed a Dutch Herder, which Johnson claimed had served in the Slovakian army. The footage displayed Johnson walking with the dog, demonstrating its ability to follow commands, and also showed the dog running towards a man holding a padded sleeve, which the dog bit onto as a whip was cracked to the ground.

Other videos depicted Johnson’s own dog jumping up to bite an arm sleeve and another showing the dog on a treadmill. Prosecutors highlighted that two of the videos appeared to show the animals being deliberately provoked or antagonized. Mr. Griffiths commented on a clip featuring Johnson’s dog, stating, “He wants a reaction and he’s trained it to be aggressive. He is not a fit and proper person to have dogs.”

Johnson also revealed that he had invested in a company specializing in canine supplements. He explained that the footage of the Dutch Herder was compiled because he was in the process of selling the dog, and a prospective buyer had requested additional footage of the animal’s training.

He insisted, “The dog was as friendly as anything and was not a protection dog. All I did was keep up her training. She was friendly and everyone on the estate loved playing with her.” Regarding the videos of his own dog, Johnson stated, “I have had no issues with her. It’s ridiculous to say she’s trained to fight. Anyone who knows anything about that breed knows they are not for fighting; she is a Pocket Bully. I breed small versions of Bullys.”

He further explained that the whip crack was used to desensitize the dog to loud noises and that he regularly takes her to seminars and organized events. Johnson claimed his training was basic, focusing on obedience commands such as sit, stay, and heel, and that his dogs were accustomed to various noises to prevent complaints when they are in new environments.

Despite his explanations, Johnson admitted to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control on Priory Road, Abbey Hulton, on June 16. A trial was held to determine whether he should be disqualified from owning dogs. District Judge Timothy Boswell remarked, “The footage shows the dogs behaving in ways that are dangerous, and the way you are encouraging them to behave potentially makes them dangerous, by encouraging them to jump up and bite. The dogs on the footage are behaving in dangerous ways, and it is appropriate to disqualify you from having custody of a dog for five years.”

As a result, Johnson was sentenced to 40 hours of unpaid community work, ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge, and was officially banned from keeping dogs for five years. On November 2, 2019, it was reported that Johnson had lost his appeal to overturn this ban, cementing the consequences of his actions and raising ongoing concerns about animal welfare and public safety in the Stoke-on-Trent area.