Story of a puppy called Chunky
Sorry boys and girls but as the title would suggest this story will really tug on your heartstrings. However, do not fear as there is a happy ending. If we’ve learnt one thing from all the shit that’s been going on in the world recently it’s that the bad guys never win, not if society has anything to say about it.
The RSPCA have described the following case as one of the worst they have ever seen. Chunky the Chihuahua cross was subjected to a level of abuse that I thought only went on in horror films, not reality.
Four teenagers, aged 15 and 16, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stole and gruesomely tortured Chunky in the seaside town of Margate, Kent. They admitted to kicking and punching him before breaking both his leg and neck. But the torment wasn’t over, the teens then went on to force-feed him drugs and set him alight before dumping him in a rubbish tip.
The inspector of the leading UK animal welfare charity, Caroline Doe, said:
“This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with – by an absolute mile.
The whole thing sends shivers down my spine. The defendants may have been young and confessed to being under the influence of drugs but the cruelty they inflicted on this poor dog was extreme, barbaric and inexcusable.
I will never forget how terrified and depressed he was when I first saw him. The injuries were so severe that despite the fantastic veterinary care and medication he was on, the medication was unable to numb all of the pain, and he suffered for at least six days according to veterinary experts.”
In October Chunky’s four savage attackers pleaded guilty to
ill-treatment under the Animal Welfare Act and have been disqualified
from keeping animals for five years. Five years? Surely those involved
should never be allowed to have an animal in their possession ever
again. But unfortunately I’m not the one who makes the rules.
The youths have been given a referral order for 12 months and ordered
to pay a variety of fines – one was ordered to fork out £1,000, two
£500, while one teen was made to pay £5,800.
The RSPCA state that with every 30 seconds that passes someone in
England and Wales dials their 24-hour cruelty line. While year on year
their 267 inspectors investigate more than 150,000 complaints of abuse
and neglect. Luckily we have charities like this one and other animal
welfare organisations to be a voice and to help rescue our furry
companions when they need us most.