Yahoo News Tragic Dan traumatised by death of Stoke-on-Trent rescue dog later took own life
A coroner has ruled a man whose mental health was affected by the death of a dog provided by a Stoke-on-Trent rescue centre later took his own life. Joseph Hart says the impact on Dan Kay of having to put the pet down should not be 'under-estimated'.
It comes as an inquest concluded that missed opportunities in the 45-year-old's mental health care - including a cancelled home visit on the day of his death - may have contributed to his passing, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The inquest had heard how mongrel Boky had arrived from Bosnia via a Stoke-on-Trent agency in January 2023. The large collie-type crossbreed had been brought to the UK via a Potteries-based community interest company.
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But it was in poor health and became very aggressive and witnesses told how Dan tried to do everything to help the dog before being advised to have it put down. After this, friends told the court that Dan received "malicious emails" from the company, including one from the dog's purported original owner in Bosnia which said: "You have murdered my dog". These experiences led to a dramatic decline in his mental health.
Mr Hart said: "The circumstances in which the dog was adopted are troubling in terms of the impact of the circumstances on Dan, with him ultimately having to put the dog down. This should not be underestimated in terms of the harrowing impact it had on him and his mental health."
The inquest recorded a suicide verdict. It heard Dan died after being hit by a train in May, 2023.
Mr Hart concluded: "The lack of a visit on the day of Dan's death, in the absence of a visit in person the day before, could have had a real prospect of eventuating a different outcome. The absence of formal consideration of the support needs possibly contributed to Dan's death. On balance, the failure to properly consider the impact of the missed visit was in my judgement a missed opportunity, which is a possible contribution to the ultimate outcome."
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