A man who carried out fatal attacks on a dog and a cat has been jailed and permanently banned from keeping animals.
Jordan Wood, 25, pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences following a prosecution by the RSPCA concerning a male Labrador-type dog, Chance, and a male cat, Casper.
Both animals died from severe complications caused by repeated, deliberate blunt force trauma.
Abuse Uncovered After Vet Visit
The abuse was uncovered in April last year after a vet raised suspicions when Chance was brought in for treatment, prompting RSPCA inspectors to visit Wood's home, reports CornwallLive.
Chance was seized by police and placed into RSPCA care. Further vet exams found Chance had sustained multiple traumatic head, throat and spinal injuries over several months. His whiskers had also been burned off.
The owner initially claimed that Chance ran into a fence, but the severity of the dog's injuries told a different story.
There were skull fractures on both the left and right frontal bones on the skull involving the frontal sinuses, as well as a small fracture of the external sagittal crest.
The throat and windpipe showed injuries recognised as features of strangulation and caused an altered airway size. The windpipe also had an abnormal, flattened profile with an over-distended muscle, consistent with repeated compression from a collar, the RSPCA said.
His spinal fracture indicated a high-level blunt force applied to the lower spine and swelling, bruising, and skin abrasions around both eyes, the face, ears, and mid-neck, consistent with blunt force blows or tight ligatures.
Chance was sadly put down because of further complications from his pre-existing throat fractures while in RSPCA care.
Cat's Injuries Revealed Multiple Attacks
In August 2025, Casper was found dead after suffering catastrophic injuries from at least three separate timelines of blunt force trauma to his chest, alongside skeletal and severe head trauma. Alongside the rib fractures, which were healing at different rates, showing three separate stages of injury, he also had a dislocation of the sternum and limb fractures.
Casper also had damage to his internal organs, with a laceration of the liver, and ruptured alveoli in the lungs and signs of head trauma with laceration of the right temporal region of the skull and right temporal muscle. Multiple cartilage fractures in both ears gave them a crinkled appearance.
Casper had also suffered severe eye trauma and blindness. At the time of his death, he had bilaterally swollen eyelids and conjunctivae, retinal detachment, lens rupture, and pus accumulation within the eyeballs. His cause of death was found to be severe blunt force trauma to the chest, resulting in extensive lung collapse and respiratory failure.
"The finding of bilateral rib fractures across multiple timelines is a powerful diagnostic indicator of physical abuse—often caused by an animal being deliberately kicked, stepped on, or thrown," Dr Taylor noted in the vet report. "Both animals were forced to endure severe physical pain and prolonged mental torment before succumbing to their injuries".
Sentencing and Ban
Wood, from Newquay, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a Labrador-type dog by inflicting physical abuse, causing unnecessary suffering to a cat by inflicting physical abuse, and causing unnecessary suffering to a cat by failing to provide professional veterinary care and attention.
Wood was banned from keeping animals for life and jailed for 18 months after being sentenced at Truro on August 6. A second person is due to be sentenced for related offences on September 11.
Ellen Gibson, aged 24 and of Kilkham, Yorkshire, has also pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering or permitting it to happen to Chance, who she was responsible for, and causing Casper unnecessary suffering or permitting it to happen and failing to get vet care for the cat.
In mitigation, Wood's defence team said he experienced a difficult childhood and suffered from PTSD and depression.
RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “The cruelty inflicted upon innocent animals like Chance and Casper is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Every living creature deserves a life free from suffering and filled with compassion."
