November 28, 2008 by Freelance Writers K9 Magazine
A Wembley man
has today (26.11.08) been convicted of nine offences under the
Dangerous Dogs Act and the Animal Welfare Act at Brent Magistrates
Court.
Akim Adelaja (
22 yrs - 14.07.1986), of Elms Lane, Wembley was found guilty of
offences are as follows:
One offence
under Section 1 (1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Breeding of
fighting dogs
One offence
under Section 1 (3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Possession or
custody of a fighting dog
Five offences
under Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006: Duty of person
responsible for animal to ensure animal welfare
One offence
under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006: Causing unnecessary
suffering to a protected animal.
One offence
under Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006: Keeping/training an
animal for use in connection with an animal fight.
His trial began
at Brent Magistrates Court on Monday (24.11.08) and he will be
sentenced on 16th December.
Sergeant Andy
Lester from Brent Police Northwick Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team said:
“Akim Adelaja’s care of these dogs was clearly insufficient, despite
the store of reading material he had built up on the subject.
To keep that
many dogs in a small, one-bedroom, basement flat would have been
obviously, to any normal individual, excessive. Adelaja’s disrespect
for the safety of others, by breeding fighting dogs which are banned by
law, has led to his conviction, and we will continue to work hard with
our colleagues at BARK and the RSPCA to ensure that the safety of the
public is assured, that dogs are cared for correctly, and not in the
callous manner displayed by Adelaja.”
Police Constable
Simon Underwood, Preston Safer Neighbourhoods Team and BARK liaison
officer said: “We are extremely pleased with today’s result, it has
been a partnership investigation from the outset, which involved a
number of officers and experts putting together a very complex case, we
believe it is the first, or one the first cases of this size in London
to take place involving both the Dangerous Dogs Act and the new Animal
Welfare Act.
It goes to prove
that by working with our BARK partners in relation to dog-related
issues we can achieve some justice for the dogs themselves and send a
strong message to offenders that we now have the tools to bring them
before courts.”
Chief Inspector
Jan Eachus, RSPCA, said: “Those involved in dog fighting have no regard
for the welfare of animals. The dogs that they own are subjected to
terrible suffering and not given veterinary treatment for their
injuries.
We are
determined to stamp out any form of dog fighting and to assist the
police in convicting offenders. Today’s result demonstrates the
strength of the BARK partnership forum.”
To
recap:
On the morning
of 7th September 2007, the Northwick Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team led
colleagues from their neighbouring wards, six police dog handlers, two
animal welfare officers from Brent Council and two RSPCA officials to
an address in Elms Lane as they executed a search warrant under Section
5(2) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The operation
was planned following several reports from members of the public and a
growing suspicion that a number of dogs were being trained to fight at
the address.
Police recovered
a large amount of dog strengthening equipment at the property and
seized 11 dogs under the Dangerous Dogs and Animal Welfare Acts in
conjunction with the RSPCA. All 11 dogs, which included six puppies,
were taken to a police kennels where they were examined thoroughly
following concerns for their welfare.
The
dogs were confirmed as below:
· An
American Bulldog bitch and six puppies recovered from a large cage
approx 3? x 3?x 4?. They were found in the kitchen area. · A
Mastiff-type dog with an injury to the left eye. This dog was found in
the bathroom. · Two
American Bulldogs and a Pitbull-type bitch. These dogs were in the
bedroom at the rear of the premises
Also recovered
were two writing pads containing handwritten contracts and dog breeding
plans, books on dog breeds including, American Pitbull Terriers and
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, a large quantity of heavy-duty chains and
weight pulling harnesses. Also present but not seized were tyres, which
had apparently been used as part of strengthening exercises for the
dogs.
The premises
smelt heavily of dog urine and faeces, which were visibly present in
the kitchen. The garden area was completely void of vegetation and
there were innumerable dog faeces present. The pregnant bitch subsequently
gave birth to seven puppies all or which died through illness
contracted prior to birth.
During the raid,
Akim Adelaja, a 21 year old male was arrested under Section 1 of the
Dangerous Dogs Act: possession of a fighting dog and Section 1(2):
breeding and selling / making a gift thereof of a controlled dog, he
was bailed to return to Wembley Police Station 02.11.07.
On Wednesday
21st November 2007, a Police Community Support Officer saw Adelaja with
a Pitbull terrier-type dog and a Bull Terrier-type dog in Butlers
Green, Sudbury. Neither dog was on a lead. When called, both dogs
ignored Adelaja. Both dogs were biting and jumping up at the branches
of the trees
causing damage.
The PCSO became
concerned for his safety at one point as both dogs began to circle both
himself and Adelaja with bared teeth.
On Friday 23rd
November, police officers executed a further search warrant at his
address in Elms Lane, Wembley where two further bulldog type dogs were
present, along with a further quantity of heavy-duty chains. Adelaja
was again arrested and subsequently charged at Wembley Police Station
on 6th March
2008 with a variety of offences under the Dangerous Dogs and Animal
Welfare Act.
About
BARK
London’s first
multi-agency partnership forum, BARK (Brent Action for Responsible K9s)
was launched in January 2007 to tackle the irresponsible use of dogs in
the borough.
· The
initiative has been set up to promote responsible dog ownership and to
take action in relation to criminal activity and welfare issues
concerning dogs. The BARK forum is made up of the RSPCA, Metropolitan
Police Service, The Mayhew Animal Home, Brent Council and Brent Housing
Partnership (BHP).
·
BARK was formed following the increased collaboration between the
partners on dog-related incidents in the local area over the past year.
·
The joint partnership is already working together with the aims of
educating the community on dog welfare and responsible pet ownership,
reducing the incidents where dogs are misused and investigating
anti-social behaviour linked with the misuse of dogs. This is being
done through a combination of each party using reassurance,
intelligence, prevention and enforcement.
NOTE: He was
acquitted of one offence under Section 3 (1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act
1991: Possession of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.
reprinted with kind permission from
Ryan O'Meara
Editor in chief K9 Magazine
