Dog man jailed for cruelty

An underground "vet" who used superglue to seal the wounds suffered by pit bulls in back street brawls was jailed for 18 weeks this afternoon.

Clayton Beard, known in the area as the "dog man," was also banned from owning any pets for life.

Beard, aged 24, had three dogs in his possession when RSPCA inspectors swooped on his Walsall home last year, magistrates heard.

Magistrates also ordered two dogs, currently in the care of the RSPCA, to be destroyed immediately. A treadmill and other equipment was found at Beard's home while one dog, called Lee, had suffered 70 wounds. Another two animals also had 35 wounds and 24 wounds each.

Beard forced them through a cruel daily training schedule, Walsall Magistrates Court was told.

Beard, of Cannon Street, Ryecroft, admitted owning two male and one female pit bulls, causing unnecessary suffering to one of the dogs called Lee, possessing animal fighting equipment and keeping or training the dogs for fighting purposes.

Glyn Whitehouse, defending, said: "He (Beard) has been a well-meaning fool. He has not been making money hand-over-fist."