USMA HASSAN

A resident of Birmingham has been prohibited from owning any animals for six years after causing undue suffering to his dog.

Usma Hassan, who resides on Eastfield Road, Birmingham, appeared before Chester Magistrates’ Court on 2 July.

He was handed a six-year ban from owning animals as per Section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and received a 20-week prison sentence which was suspended for a year.

In addition, Hassan was ordered to pay over £230 in surcharge fees.

The court proceedings involved Hassan admitting to causing unnecessary harm to a protected animal, specifically a dog.

The case was initiated following an incident on Friday, 21 February, when officers from Cheshire’s Rural Crime Team were on patrol in the Pool Lane area of Elton.

They noticed a car parked in a lay-by with a rear bumper stained in blood.

Approaching the vehicle, officers observed that its windows were heavily tinted, obstructing their view inside.

Concerned about safety, officers forced entry through the vehicle's trunk.

Inside, they found a female German Shepherd confined in a metal cage.

Some of the cage’s bars were bloodstained and the floor was littered with faeces.

Officers attempting to soothe the distressed dog saw Hassan, who had been sleeping at the back of the car, wake up and remove her from the vehicle for closer examination.

The officers detected what appeared to be a large, untreated wound on the dog and advised Hassan to take her to a veterinarian immediately.

Hassan stated to the officers that he was experienced with handling security dogs.

Veterinary assessment revealed a sizable, immovable growth believed to have been present for a long period without treatment, which led to the decision to euthanize the dog.

Hassan was subsequently detained and questioned.

He claimed he was unaware of the growth's origin, suggesting it might have appeared suddenly, and accused the veterinarian of an error.

He also claimed that the RSPCA had visited his address in Birmingham within the last two weeks and declared the dog to be in good health, which was not accurate.

The RSPCA had responded to a neighbour’s report regarding three dogs at the property and issued an improvement notice to an occupant, but the German Shepherd had not been present during that inspection, so no welfare verdict was made.

Hassan admitted that he had been caring for the dog for roughly two months.

It was also disclosed that the dog had never visited a vet in her decade-long life until that day.

Police found that Hassan lacked experience in dog handling and security work but showed interest in pursuing employment in those areas.

He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering in June, leading to his court sentence.