Cruel pet owner posted bragging video trying to get his dog to maul pet rat
A cruel pet owner swung his rat round by the tail to encourage one of his dogs to attack and kill it.
Liam Fair faces being banned from keeping animals after he admitted a series of cruelty and neglect charges at Perth Sheriff Court.
Fair was caught after posting a bragging video on SnapChat of him whacking the dog’s face with the helpless rat to provoke it into the fatal attack.
The court heard he had picked up the pet rat and hurled it around by its tail several times to smash it into the face of one of his dogs.
The 21-year-old admitted exposing a large number of animals neglect and suffering at his former home in Crieff’s Corlundy Crescent.
He admitted being responsible for unnecessary suffering caused to five puppies, three dogs - called Honey, Jax and Jock - and a kitten in October 2022.
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He admitted failing to take steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met and exposing them to urine, faeces and diarrhoea.
He failed to provide adequate and appropriate nutrition and hydration, or suitable ventilation or a clean living environment.
He failed to protect them from disease.
He admitted that between October 20, 2020 and October 28, 2022 he acted in a cruel manner which led to the domesticated rat’s death at his home.
Fair admitted causing the rat unnecessary suffering by suspending it by the tail, repeatedly swinging it, and repeatedly striking it against a dog’s face to attack the rat.
He admitted a third charge of “causing an animal fight to take place, by way of baiting and goading a lurcher dog to attack, bite and kill a domestic rat.”
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson confirmed to the court that the dogs and puppies had been taken from Fair and were in the care of the SSPCA.
Officers who raided Fair’s home after the video came to light, found the animals being kept in cramped and squalid conditions and in a poor state of health.
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Ms Hodgson told Sheriff Alison McKay that the it was for the court to consider whether or not Fair should be made subject to a deprivation order, meaning any pets he now has would be taken from him.
The court was told that he currently owns dogs, a bird - believed to be a kestrel - and ferrets. He and former co-accused Rhiannon Nugent arrived at the court with a dog.
Sheriff McKay said: “I will defer sentence for reports.
“The other thing I have to consider in due course are orders in relation to deprivation and/or disqualification.
“I will have to check the regulations to see whether I can deprive him of animals which are different to those which are mentioned in the charge.
“I have to consider whether or not I disqualify him from having animals at all.
“He will have to think about re-homing the animals he has.
“One thing the court might want to know is whether or not a vet has seen the dog he currently has and what sort of state of health that dog is in.
“These charges, on the face of it, give rise to deprivation or disqualification.
“I will continue for consideration of whether or not to make a deprivation and/or disqualification order in relation to your ability to continue to own animals.”
Sentence on Fair was deferred until next month and bail was continued.
His not guilty pleas - and those of Nugent, 21 to further charges of cruelty and neglect were dropped just before the pair were due to go on trial.