British Indian Man Sentenced for Starving, Chaining Dog Following Birth 7 Pups

An individual of Indian origin residing in central England has received an eight-week prison sentence and has been mandated to perform 80 hours of unpaid work for mistreating his dog by depriving it of food and restraining it with a chain attached to the refrigerator subsequent to the dog giving birth to seven puppies.

According to the Coventry Telegraph, Gurminder Singh, aged 41, recently faced sentencing after pleading guilty to a violation under the Animal Welfare Act and also will not be allowed to own any dog for two years.

During the proceedings at the court in Coventry, it was disclosed that on October 12, 2022. an inspector from a reputed animal welfare charity in the UK,  RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ), visited Gurminder’s residence.

The inspector discovered Sasha, a Presa Canario dog, tethered to a freezer with a metal chain. Sasha appeared emaciated, with her spine, ribs, and pelvic bones visible. The news outlet reported that her seven puppies, approximately three weeks old, were housed nearby in a deteriorated metal container.

Subsequently, the RSPCA inspector took Sasha and her puppies to the charity’s Birmingham Animal Hospital, where Sasha was found to be severely underweight and was admitted for treatment. A veterinarian who examined Sasha determined that she weighed 25.7 kg, nearly half of her breed’s healthy average weight of 40 kg.

The vet provided a statement to the court indicating that Sasha had endured a significant lack of proper nutrition for three weeks, although it may have been longer. The vet’s report also confirmed the absence of any other pre-existing conditions that could have contributed to Sasha’s poor physical condition.

Within one month of being under the care of the RSPCA, Sasha experienced a weight gain of 6 kg. In his defense, Singh claimed he was not a negligent dog owner and asserted that he possessed £222 worth of dog food in his refrigerator, which he claimed to have been feeding Sasha.

However, the magistrates considered Singh’s negligence towards his responsibility and absence of remorse as aggravating factors in their decision. They referred to sentencing guidelines and determined that the offense warranted imprisonment. Nonetheless, they opted to suspend the eight-week prison sentence for 12 months.

The court imposed £400 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge on Singh, along with the suspended prison sentence. The RSPCA has successfully rehomed all seven puppies. Furthermore, Sasha, who has been renamed Flora, is available for adoption at the Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre in Colwyn Bay, Wales, where the RSPCA operates.