Clynton Hagen, who violently shook his girlfriend's tiny dog to death, has avoided jail. He was given a five-year ban on owning and keeping animals at Livingston Sheriff Court on Thursday, August 13.
Hagen admitted causing chihuahua Ollie's death by shaking him so hard he suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage. He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
Incident and aftermath
The court heard how an inspector from the Scottish SPCA attended Hagen's address in East Calder, West Lothian, after Ollie's owner reported concerns to the society's helpline that Hagen had killed the dog by violent means.
Kara Davies had returned home early from work after her then-partner Hagen said something had happened to Ollie. When Davies arrived at the property, she found Ollie collapsed and not breathing. She rushed him to the vet immediately, but despite desperate resuscitation attempts, Ollie died.
Davies was left devastated by Ollie's sudden death. He meant the world to her, having supported her through a severe illness. She ordered a post-mortem examination, which showed Ollie had died from severe brain bleeding.
Owner's reaction
Speaking after sentencing, Davies said: “This has been an utterly devastating experience and losing Ollie in such a violent and cruel way is a trauma I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Within an hour of me leaving for work my whole world had shattered. Ollie meant everything to me and was such a deeply loved part of my family.
“While I am relieved there has finally been accountability, I believe serious cases of animal cruelty should result in much stronger and longer sentences and bans on owning and keeping animals.”
Inspector's statement
Reacting to the sentencing, the inspector said: “We welcome the Sheriff’s decision. Hagen’s violent actions caused immense suffering to Ollie and left his owner devastated. He should never be allowed to take care of an animal again and a ban will help ensure he never does at lease for the next five year. I would like to commend Kara Davies for her help and tenacity throughout this very traumatic investigation.
“However, there remains a risk that offenders could go on to reoffend or breach animal ownership bans without being detected. This is why we are calling for a National Animal Offenders Register: a centralised system that would help enforcement agencies identify people who are banned from keeping animals and prevent them from slipping through the gaps. Importantly, animal abuse is often a warning sign for human-related abuse, meaning a joined-up system will help frontline officers spot wider safeguarding risks.”
To report a concern of cruelty, visit the Scottish SPCA website.
