July 20, 2020
The RSPCA has described a court decision last week to jail a man found guilty of a dog fighting charge as a “huge win” in the fight against animal cruelty.
Glenn John Wilson, from Kingsthorpe, was found guilty in December last year in relation to supplying a Pit Bull Terrier-type dog, “Pretty Girl”, for organised dog fighting.
He was also convicted in relation to two charges of failing to provide appropriate living conditions, and one charge of failing to provide appropriate treatment.
These charges related to three further Pit Bull-type dogs, “Chico”, “Jesus” and “Naughty”.
The convictions followed a three-day trial in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.
On Friday, magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Wilson six months’ jail, to serve three months. A parole release date of October 16 was set.
Wilson was also ordered to pay legal costs, witness costs and animal care costs totalling $60,000.
A Prohibition Order was made prohibiting him from owning any dog-fighting breeds for life, unless approved by the Chief Inspector of RSPCA Queensland.
Ownership of the dogs mentioned in the charges was transferred to RSPCA Queensland.
“The successful outcome in this matter has been the result of persistence, determination and hard work by RSPCA Inspectors and prosecutors,” RSPCA Qld solicitor Tracey Jackson said.
“This outcome would not have been possible without teamwork, careful methodical investigative techniques and the hard work and expertise of the prosecutions team.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said the seized dogs have been in their care for 714 days as Wilson refused to surrender them.
“This has resulted in significant cost to the RSPCA and the inability for these dogs to be rehomed,” the spokesperson said.
“Not to mention the emotional bonds that the RSPCA team have formed with these dogs. Sadly, many of the dogs continue to suffer from ongoing physical and emotional ailments due to their history.”
In August 2018, RSPCA Inspectors executed a warrant at a Kingsthorpe property. Five dogs belonging to Wilson were seized.
Inspectors also allegedly located items related to organised dog fighting, including a treadmill with a leash attached and a break stick used to separate fighting dogs.
Vets examined all seized dogs and some had scarring which experts told the court was consistent with organised dogfighting and inconsistent with accidental fights or pig hunting.
Wilson was prosecuted following protracted investigations into organised dogfighting by the RSPCA Inspectorate Taskforce, which culminated in warrants being executed at several properties around Queensland.
