Birkenhead man faces jail sentence over greyhound neglect

Jan 27 2010 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

Birkenhead man faces possible jail sentence over neglect of greyhounds

A GREYHOUND racing trainer from Birkenhead faces jail after inflicting “terrible suffering” on nearly 30 dogs in his care.

Ian Street, 49, had 29 greyhounds confiscated when his Frankby premises were raided last April.

Of those, eleven were in such a state that animal welfare charges were brought against him by Wirral Council.

Street, of Bedford Avenue, leant on the dock at Wirral Magistrate’s Court as the animals’ misery was detailed last Thursday.

Kenneth Abraham, prosecuting, described the scene at Hillcroft Farm on Frankby Road, where the dogs were kept.

He told the court: “A greyhound called Dancer had gingivitis and scabs on her feet.

“Tex had complete hair loss on his back half and scabs on his ears.

“Sal had thinning hair and redness to her skin.

“The vet who examined the dogs confirmed these were all illnesses that would have been spotted by a responsible dog owner who would have sought appropriate advice.”

After Street admitted failing to protect the animals from pain, suffering, injury and disease, chairwoman of the bench Linda Tragen warned him: “It is up to you to co-operate with the probation service on a pre-sentence report which may include a community penalty or indeed custody.”

He was also ordered not to give away any animals he was keeping at other properties and to make them available for inspection.