A man has been sentenced to jail for orchestrating cruel animal fights involving his dogs attacking cats and badgers, with videos of the vicious encounters shared online. John Dysart was convicted of owning two lurcher dogs named Dot and Sky for the purpose of engaging in animal fighting. He recorded disturbing footage of his dogs killing both pet cats and wild badgers, which alarmed concerned residents in Alloa, near Glasgow, Scotland, leading to an investigation by the Scottish SCPA.
Veteran welfare officers labeled this case as one of the most heartless they had encountered, expressing concerns that children might have been exposed to the graphic videos. A Special Investigations inspector from the Scottish SPCA revealed that Dysart frequently took his lurcher dogs out late at night and early in the morning to hunt and film the brutal attacks on badgers, foxes, and cats.
The incidents occurred in March 2024 and prompted numerous calls to the SSPCA Helpline. One spokesperson mentioned receiving reports of Dysart posting videos online showing his dogs viciously attacking a domestic cat in an Alloa neighborhood. An anonymous individual shared one such video with the SSPCA Helpline, capturing a horrific scene of the dogs mauling the cat to death on a street pavement under the glow of a mobile phone’s light.
The Inspector condemned the extreme cruelty of the case, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the violent acts and the subsequent sharing of the footage for personal satisfaction. Dysart was sentenced to 11 months in custody, reduced to 10 months, and prohibited from owning any animals for life at Alloa Sheriff Court on September 18. All animals involved have been rehomed to safe and caring environments.
Mark Bishop, CEO of the Scottish SPCA, commended the team for their efforts in securing a conviction and protecting animals in Scotland, denouncing animal abuse as unacceptable in society. The organization expressed gratitude towards key individuals involved in the case, highlighting the collaborative effort required to combat animal cruelty effectively.
The Scottish SPCA also acknowledged the contributions of professionals like Karon Rollo, Procurator Fiscal Depute of the Wildlife & Environmental Crime Unit, and Dr. Lucy Webster, a Senior Wildlife Forensic Scientist, who played essential roles in the investigation. They emphasized the psychological risks posed by the creation and sharing of violent animal cruelty content online, particularly to unsuspecting viewers, including children.