April 2021 Weymouth man banned from keeping dogs after breaking pup’s leg A man broke a puppy’s leg when he stood on it and then failed to take it for immediate veterinary care – leaving it ‘screaming and suffering’, a court heard. Kris Conroy broke the leg of a six-month-old brown American bulldog bitch known as Karma on December 22, 2019, leaving the animal in considerable pain, Weymouth Magistrates Court was told. The court heard how the 38-year-old, of Brisbane Road, Weymouth, was on sleeping medication at the time, due to ‘severe mental health issues’, and stood on the puppy’s leg in a ‘dazed state’. He pleaded guilty in court at the first opportunity to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Matthew Knight, said: “The police were called to [Conroy’s] home after the dog was heard screaming. Police recommended he should take the dog to the vet. He did so within a 24-hour period. “Dogs have similar pain thresholds to people. The lack of action left the dog in a state of considerable pain and suffering.” Mr Knight read a statement in court from the RPSCA inspector Marie Griffiths which said: “I have never seen such a traumatised dog.” The court heard how veterinary scans revealed the puppy’s leg was broken. The dog was seized by the RSPCA on January 8 last year and has been in boarding care with the charity since. Chairman of the bench, Stephen Corben, banned Conroy from keeping or caring for any dog for an 18-month period. He was also given a community order of 12 months and must attend 15 full-day sessions with a probation officer. He must also pay a fine of £150, a victim surcharge of £90 and £60 court costs.