A thug who battered the dog he had owned since it was a puppy has been jailed after it died of blunt force trauma. David Bernard, 65, of Priory Road, Hall Green, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and banned from keeping animals for 15 years at Birmingham Crown Court on June 3, 2026.
The Attack on Babaloo
Bernard admitted inflicting blunt force trauma on his English bulldog, named Babaloo, resulting in non-accidental injuries. The court heard that a vet discovered bleeding from the dog's mouth, nose, and anus after Bernard brought it in on August 13, 2024. The RSPCA was called, and witnesses reported seeing Bernard being physically and verbally aggressive to Babaloo the night before. When confronted, Bernard said the dog had died.
Post-Mortem Findings
Police seized the dog's body, and an independent veterinary expert, Dr. Sean Taylor, conducted a post-mortem examination. He found that Babaloo suffered multiple forceful impacts shortly before death, causing bruising, liver injury, internal bleeding, and compromised lung function. Dr. Taylor concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma leading to respiratory compromise and failure. Babaloo had brachycephalic syndrome, a condition that narrows the respiratory system, but showed no clinical signs of being adversely affected before the attack.
Sentencing Remarks
Judge Sarah Jayne Buckingham told Bernard that owning a pet is a privilege and that pets depend entirely on their owners for safety and care. She noted that Bernard had owned Babaloo since it was a puppy and described the dog as loyal, loving, and vulnerable. The judge said the jail term serves as a deterrent for those who treat animals cruelly, especially when it leads to death.
RSPCA Response
RSPCA inspector Laura Brewerton said, "This was an horrific attack on a defenceless dog. It was a particularly harrowing case to deal with, knowing how much Babaloo must have suffered during the beatings that led to his death."
