KIERIEN HARRISON'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN BURTON-ON-TRENT: PET CHIHUAHUA ABUSED AND LEFT WITH SEVERE INJURIES

Kierien Lee Harrison, born on December 25, 1991, and residing at Park View, West Street, Winshill, Burton-on-Trent DE15 0FD, has been convicted of a disturbing act of animal cruelty that has shocked the local community. The incident involved the brutal treatment of his pet chihuahua, Misty, which resulted in severe injuries and lasting trauma.

Harrison, who has a known history of violent behavior, inflicted such extensive harm on Misty that veterinary assessments compared her injuries to those typically seen in car crash victims. The case came to light after Staffordshire Police, during an investigation unrelated to animal welfare, arrested Harrison on May 9, 2019. It was during this arrest that a witness informed authorities that Harrison had thrown his dog down the stairs of his home and then stamped on her back. Harrison, however, denied these allegations.

Following the police report, RSPCA inspector Kate Levesley was called to examine Misty. She transported the injured dog to a nearby veterinary clinic for a thorough assessment. The veterinarian discovered a catalogue of injuries that painted a grim picture of the dog's suffering. Misty was found to have severe pelvic injuries, which caused her difficulty in urinating and defecating. She also had a fractured tooth, missing teeth, and trauma on the right side of her body. Further investigation revealed that Misty had sustained a pelvic injury approximately a month prior, which Harrison had attributed to a fall from a bed, claiming she had become lame as a result.

X-ray examinations showed that her injuries had worsened over time, indicating ongoing trauma. Misty was prescribed medication and required two months of cage rest to recover. After this period, she was placed in foster care to continue her recuperation. The veterinary report explicitly stated that the injuries were consistent with repeated physical trauma inflicted by a person, rather than accidental falls. It noted multiple injuries to her teeth and pelvis, with the force required to cause such damage being comparable to high falls or traffic accidents. The report concluded that the initial injury in April could not have been caused by a simple fall and strongly suggested deliberate harm.

As a consequence of her injuries, Misty now faces a future of potential lifelong health issues, including severe arthritis and the need for ongoing medication and treatment. Despite her suffering, Misty has since been rehomed and is now enjoying a better quality of life with her new owners, according to a spokesperson for the RSPCA.

Inspector Levesley expressed her concern, stating, “Misty’s injuries were horrific and she was understandably nervous around people and scared. But she has made great progress and is coping with her damaged pelvis remarkably well. I am happy to see that she has been rehomed and is enjoying life now — she is certainly getting lots of attention and love.”

During the court proceedings, it was also revealed that Harrison suffers from autism, which the defense cited as mitigation for his actions. The magistrates described the case as shocking and expressed their difficulty in considering immediate custody, ultimately sentencing Harrison to an 18-week jail term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £715 in costs and charges and was banned from owning pets indefinitely.

In a further update from August 2022, Harrison was sentenced to 38 weeks in prison after being found guilty of stalking a woman. The magistrates described his conduct as a prolonged campaign of terrifying harassment, involving causing serious alarm and distress. Harrison was also convicted of possessing cannabis on July 8 and breaching the previously imposed suspended sentence for the animal cruelty offense, highlighting a pattern of concerning behavior. This series of convictions underscores the severity of his actions and the ongoing legal consequences he faces in Burton-on-Trent.