Jack Carling, a 19-year-old from Hull in East Yorkshire, has been jailed for three months and permanently banned from owning animals after subjecting his dogs to prolonged and violent abuse.
His Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Biggie, suffered such severe injuries that he lost an eye and was left permanently crippled.
The abuse came to light after the RSPCA removed Biggie and a second dog, Sophie, from Carling’s home on January 7.
The living conditions were described as entirely unsuitable, with both dogs kept indoors without exercise and confined to a filthy space covered in excrement and urine.
A medical examination of Biggie revealed multiple untreated fractures, including a self-healed leg injury and a broken hip.
He also had a chronic nasal infection, and one of his eyes had to be surgically removed.
During surgery, veterinarians found parts of his skull were abnormally thickened—ten times more than normal—due to repeated trauma.
The damage to his tissue and cartilage was also linked to violence.
Prosecutor Philip Brown told the court that Carling’s housemate, Troy Allen, witnessed the abuse and said both dogs lived in constant fear.
According to Allen, Carling would beat the dogs regularly, causing them to hide in small corners to avoid him.
“They would just remain terrified on the couch because he wouldn’t let them go,” he said.
District Judge Frederick Rutherford, presiding over the case, described the abuse as nearly unbelievable in its cruelty.
Carling pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering, failing to protect the dogs from pain or illness, and keeping them in unsafe conditions.
He reportedly showed no remorse during the investigation, telling RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer that he “didn’t care” and that she couldn’t do anything about it.
While Carling’s sentence was limited to three months, the court also imposed a lifetime ban on pet ownership.
Despite his past history of violence, his defense noted he entered an early guilty plea.
Since being rescued, Biggie has made significant progress. Though he remains physically disabled, his condition has stabilized, and both he and Sophie are now seeking safe, loving homes.
Their story serves as a grim reminder of the suffering animals can endure behind closed doors, and the importance of standing up against cruelty.
