Northampton family disqualified from owning a dog for five years

A Northampton father and son who shot their Staffordshire Bull Terrier twice in the head with a nail gun have been disqualified from owning a dog for five years.

Chayne Robert Mason, aged 47, and 20-year-old Tyler Mason, both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely their Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Buddy.

The pair appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 22, along with Tyler’s mother, 50-year-old Tracy Ann Welsh, following the incident at an address in Harborough Road, Northampton.

On November 11 last year, Chayne Mason of Gloucester Crescent, Northampton, and his son Tyler Mason, of Harborough Road, took four-year-old Buddy outside and each shot him in the head using the nail gun.

Believing Buddy was dead, the men left him outside. However, the next day they discovered he had survived the horrific assault, and removed one of the nails from his head, causing it to bleed.

Instead of taking Buddy to the vets or seeking medical assistance, Welsh cleaned the wound and gave the dog pain killers. Two days after sustaining his injuries, a third party contacted the RSPCA to raise their concerns.

Officers from the RSPCA and Northamptonshire Police attended the home of Tyler Mason and Welsh, where they found Buddy clearly suffering and in a lot of pain from his injuries.

Buddy was immediately taken to a veterinary surgery for emergency treatment, where he was sadly put to sleep.

PC Chloe Gillies of the Rural Crime Team, who led the investigation, said: “Buddy was treated in such a cruel and inhumane way. He was not treated like a loved family pet and instead he was left to suffer in pain.

“The family stated that Buddy was an aggressive dog at times, which is why they did what they did, but there is just no excuse for this unacceptable act of cruelty or their barbaric behaviour.

“There are many routes to go down if you would like to rehome your dog, even if it is aggressive. Do not take matters into your own hands. You can contact your local vets or an animal charity to discuss how best to move forward.”

In addition to being disqualified from owning, being involved in the keeping or having any influence or control of a dog for the next five years, the defendants were ordered to complete an unpaid work requirement community order.

Chayne Mason and Welsh were both ordered to pay £500 and £292 compensation respectively, £95 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.