XL Bully owner who gave vet ‘punishment beating’ for failing to save dog’s life jailed
A suspected XL Bully[1] breeder who gave a vet a “punishment beating” at his surgery for failing to save the dog’s life has been jailed. Arbaz Hamza Hamid, 24, punched Stephen Stead so hard he was left with a bloody nose and his glasses left an imprint on his skin. He needed stitches in three cuts that were caused in the shocking attack at the vet’s surgery last January.
York Crown Court was told Hamid and four others arrived at the Stead’s surgery in two cars at around 4.15pm on January 16. Hamid’s barrister Rachel Webster said the dog was ill and needed two-hourly injections and around-the-clock care from the five joint owners.
XL Bully owner punched vet in the face after being told pet died during surgery[2]
It will become illegal to own XL bully dogs from February 1, unless the animal is on the Index of Exempted Dogs list (Getty Images)
Owners who want to keep their dogs must register them by January 31 (Getty Images)
A man and woman, who were part of the group, had brought the dog to the vet at 10.30am on January 16. They were told the pet needed surgery and the chances of her surviving were one in five, but they agreed to the operation anyway.
Stephen then carried out the surgery and later that day rang the man and woman to tell them the dog had died. The group of five, including Hamid, then arrived at the vet’s and confronted Stephen – with one of the men punching the wall. Victoria Barker, prosecuting, said Hamid suddenly lunged forward at the end of the incident and punched the vet in the face with a clenched fist.
He drove Stephen’s glasses into his face so hard they left an imprint in the skin and he made three cuts that had to be stitched up. After the vet was hit, all five people had left the practice. Through Ms Webster, Hamid claimed the dog had cost between GBP4,000 and GBP5,000 and was purchased from America.
He also claimed the animal was solely a “family pet” who was owned jointly by the three men and two women who were at the vet’s. But the prosecution claimed the cost of the dog had been considerably higher. The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, rejected the defendant’s claim the dog was a family pet and said it could have been used for breeding.
He said: “This was the loss of a big investment, that is what this was all about. I don’t accept this was an impulsive act by you. This was the coup de grace of an increasingly hostile situation.”
Ms Webster says Hamid loved the dog, had acted impulsively and had taken no part in the aggression until the punch. She described him as very remorseful and had no previous convictions. Hamid, of Rotherham, South Yorks, previously pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for seven months.
It will become illegal to own XL bully[3] dogs from February 1, unless the animal is on the Index of Exempted Dogs list.
Owners who want to keep their dogs must register them by January 31 and microchip, neuter and keep their pet on a muzzle and on a lead in public.