Pit bull puppy beaten Glenroy, VIC (AU) Incident Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Ibrahim Moussa

Case ID: 8982 Classification: Beating Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in VIC (AU) Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior Login to Watch this Case

A man who bashed a pit bull cross puppy is cooling his heels in jail after being convicted of cruelty to animal offences and other crimes.

Ibrahim Moussa, 25, of Glenroy in Victoria, admitted beating and causing unnecessary pain to four-month-old Zarah, his then partner's dog.

Moussa was also sentenced for offences including burglary, theft and breaching an intervention order.

Moussa faced Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court last week and was sentenced to a total of three years' jail, with a minimum of 18 months behind bars.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty to Zarah and was sentenced to three-month jail terms on each charge, to be served concurrently.

RSPCA inspectors removed Zarah from his home after discovering she was suffering a fractured front leg.

"Mr Moussa admitted to hitting the pup and soaking her under the tap when she did wrong," RSPCA Inspector Sarah Eskins said.

"However, one neighbour reported seeing Mr Moussa beat the dog with a metal pole."

RSPCA inspectorate services manager Greg Boland said Zarah was clearly frightened of Moussa. "Our inspectors observed the dog cowering in front of the defendant and urinating in fear every time he was around her," Mr Boland said.

"She was fearful. Her behaviour was indicative of the way she had previously been treated."

He described Zarah's treatment as appalling.

"It's one of the extreme cases of animal cruelty we unfortunately deal with from time to time," he said.

He said the two jail sentences were fitting punishment for Moussa's actions.

"The penalty reflected the nature of the crime," he said.

Moussa had faced a maximum year's jail and a possible $12,000 fine.

He said Zarah was now in the care of Moussa's partner, who had moved house.

"The dog is fine. We treated her and got her back to full health," Mr Boland said.

Moussa is expected to appeal against the length of his sentence.

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References

The Sunday Mail - June 9, 2006

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