Meekaa'eel Abu-bakar Nawaz, 30, of Oxford Road, Acocks Green, narrowly avoided jail after admitting two animal welfare offences. The charges stemmed from RSPCA and police inspections that uncovered eight dogs living in dangerous and unsanitary conditions at two properties in Birmingham.
Conditions at the Kings Norton address
At a property in Kings Norton, two dogs were confined in a garden described as hazardous and unsuitable. One shelter was built from plastic containers, offering no protection from the weather, while a wooden kennel had holes in its roof and a chewed-through floor. The garden was cluttered with vehicle tyres, pallets, a tyre-hanging frame, and metal run panels. The perimeter fence was draped in loose-hanging barbed wire.
Bedding consisted of urine-soaked straw, and the only visible water source contained algae. Investigators also found dog training equipment inside the property, including bite sleeves, a bite suit, shields, weighted collars, a dog treadmill, and sticks.
Squalid conditions in Acocks Green
At a second address in Acocks Green, six dogs were found in squalid pens. Chief Inspector John Grant of the RSPCA said: 'The shields bore marks clearly indicating they had been extensively used. In the same cupboard were a quantity of dog leads, in excess forty leads.'
The pens had floor areas covered in faeces, with dilapidated, heavily chewed shelters severely contaminated with waste. In one instance, waste had been compacted beneath the kennel flooring, forcing animals to sit on it. The surrounding area was cluttered with building, vehicle, and mechanical debris. In the rear garage, rescuers discovered a spiked pinch collar, bite sleeves, various animal medications, and veterinary paperwork.
Health and behaviour of the dogs
All eight dogs were assessed as underweight by a vet. Some suffered from skin lesions, pressure sores, and matted coats. Five of the dogs displayed high levels of aggression, including lunging and biting, resulting in injuries to RSPCA staff members.
Court outcome
Nawaz changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial. He was sentenced to 16 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was banned from keeping animals for ten years. In mitigation, Nawaz said he was ashamed of his behaviour and struggled with mental health.
