Police in Richmondshire arrested a man following the discovery of three injured dogs, including one critically hurt with deep neck cuts. The dogs were promptly taken into custody and treated by an RSPCA veterinarian.
Officers from the Richmondshire Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a thorough search at the scene, uncovering a disturbed badger set and a dead badger nearby.
The suspect, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of a wildlife offence, breaching a dog control order, and stealing a cellphone. After questioning, he was released on bail while investigations continue.
Police confirmed that the three injured dogs were not returned to the suspect and are now in good hands receiving necessary care.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said, “When we investigate rural crime, it often reveals other offences including animal cruelty and theft. Public information is invaluable in protecting rural communities. We take every report seriously and act on it.”
Anyone with information about badger baiting or wildlife crime is urged to report it to North Yorkshire Police via their website’s ‘Report’ button, call 101 (option 1), or contact the Crimestoppers hotline anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Originally published by UKNIP.
