A man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to stabbing his seven-month-old puppy to death with a kitchen knife.
Puppy showed 'no signs of life' at vets
Matej Ciroka, 24, took his sharpei, named Aki, to a veterinary clinic in Stoke-on-Trent in May 2024. He claimed the pet had fallen onto a coffee table and collapsed, struggling to breathe. However, veterinary staff quickly discovered the truth.
A veterinary nurse who examined Aki stated she saw no signs of life upon arrival. "I placed the dog on a table and checked," she said. "There were no signs of respiration, pupils were fixed and dilated, and there was no heartbeat."
During the examination, a wound was found on the puppy's right flank. Upon further investigation, the nurse inserted a needle cap into the wound, finding it was approximately 2cm deep. Concerns were immediately raised about deliberate harm, leading to a report to the RSPCA.
Court hears details of 'unnecessary suffering'
The incident occurred at Beardmore Court on William Greatbatch Close in Stoke-on-Trent. At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, December 15, Ciroka, now of HMP Forest Bank in Manchester, admitted one offence under the Animal Welfare Act.
The court was told Ciroka caused 'unnecessary suffering' to the young dog. While he stated he did not intend to commit the crime and showed remorse, citing physical and mental health issues, the judge imposed a significant sentence.
Lifetime ban and prison term imposed
Ciroka was jailed for 18 months and given a lifetime ban on keeping animals. Aki's body was taken into police possession and placed into the care of the RSPCA for a post-mortem examination.
RSPCA inspector Amy Pellegrini commented on the case: "All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. Cases like this are incredibly upsetting, and fortunately rare, but if anyone is worried about how they are treating their pet or fear they could put them in danger, we’d urge you to seek help immediately."
She directed the public to useful information available on the RSPCA's website for support.
