XL Bully owner who punched vet after sick dog died is jailed
An XL Bully owner who punched a vet in the face after surgery failed to save the dog’s life has been jailed.
Arbaz Hamza Hamid gave Stephen Stead, 64, a ‘punishment beating’, York Crown Court heard, in a shocking attack at Mr Stead’s practice.
The 24-year-old suspected breeder hit the vet so hard he ended up with a bloodied nose, cuts that needed three stitches and an imprint in his skin from the glasses he was wearing.
Hamid’s barrister Rachel Webster said the dog, who was called Empress and belonged to Hamid and four others, had been sick before it died and needed two-hourly injections and around the clock care.
Mr Stead told the owners the XL Bully – now a banned breed – needed an operation, but warned she only had a one in five chance of surviving surgery.
Despite the odds the owners agreed to go ahead with it.
Mr Stead carried out the operation but sadly Empress had died and he called the owners to let them know the bad news.
On January 16 Hamid and the other owners arrived at S T Stead’s Vets at around 4.15pm, the court heard.
They confronted Mr Stead about the dog’s death and one man punched the wall.
Hamid claimed Empress was a family pet that was bought from the US for between £4,000-£5,000 and owned by him and the two women and two men who went to the surgery with him.
Ms Barker, however, said the prosecution believe the dog was bought for considerably more.
And The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris rejected Hamid’s claim Empress was a family pet and said she could have been used for breeding.
He said: ‘This was the loss of a big investment, that is what this was all about.’
In his defence, Ms Webster said Hamid loved the dog, had acted impulsively when he punched Mr Stead and had not taken part in any aggression before he lunged out.
But Judge Morris rejected this idea. He said: ‘I don’t accept this was an impulsive act by you.
‘This was the coup de grace of an increasingly hostile situation.’
Ms Webster said Hamid was remorseful and had no previous convictions.
Hamid, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who previously pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, was jailed for seven months.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcedin September, XL Bully dogs would be banned in England and Wales by the beginning of this year, following a spate of serious attacks on people and other dogs.
It became illegal to sell, advertise, rehome or breed XL Bully dogs on January 1 and from February 1 all owners must have their dog registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs list.
The pets must also by muzzled and on a lead in public as well as microchipped and neutered.
Last week dozens of animal lovers held a candlelit vigil for XL Bully dogs they say are being euthanised because of the ban.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.