Dog owner, 26, brutally beat Alsatian puppy to death in ‘blind rage’ then tried to cover his tracks by dumping body in woods where it was found by ‘traumatised’ children
- WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Jon-Luc McLoughlin, 26, of Poole, Dorset, punched and kicked his Alsatian puppy Lexi in a furious rage
- He tried to cover up what he’d done by burying body in woodland in Poole
- 26-year-old is facing a custodial sentence after admitting animal cruelty
Jon-Luc McLoughlin, 26, is pictured leaving Poole Magistrates Court in Dorset yesterday
A dog owner beat his Alsatian puppy to death in a furious rage before trying to hide its body in the woods, a court heard.
Jon-Luc McLoughlin, 26, punched and kicked his pet Lexi over and over until she died.
After he had calmed down he attempted to cover his tracks by dumping the body in an area of trees near his home in Poole, Dorset.
But the dog was discovered by a group of children who were left ‘traumatised’ by what they found.
McLoughin had only had the 11-month-old puppy for a month after buying her with his partner before the fatal attack.
He appeared at Poole Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to ‘causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal’.
He is now facing jail with animal rights’ groups calling for a custodial sentence.
The court heard that a post-mortem carried out on Lexi’s body found she had suffered ‘blunt force trauma’, including a laceration to her liver, blood in her abdomen and a stomach tear.
During a police interview McLaughlin initially tried to put the injuries down to a road traffic collision but later confessed to the killing, telling officers ‘I get very angry and I don’t know what came over me’.
The death was reported to the RSPCA who brought the prosecution against McLoughlin to court.
Matthew Knight, prosecuting, said: ‘He punched or kicked the dog to death and dumped the body in some trees near his home.
‘It was found by locals and upset local children who saw it. She had a laceration to her liver, blood in her abdomen and a stomach tear.
‘It is likely that the dog did not survive for long.’
McLoughlin’s defence team argued that he was under significant stress at the time due to being a carer for his ill father.
Defending, James Moore said: ‘This episode of blind rage is where stress has got the better of him.
The body of McLoughlin’s Alsatian Lexi is pictured after being discovered in some woodland
‘This is not just some violent thug who thinks it is okay to treat his own pet poorly.’
During the hearing magistrate Martin Arthur told McLoughlin that sentencing options were ‘completely open’ and that custody was ‘not off the table’.
The case has now been adjourned until September 5.
McLoughlin’s actions have also been slammed by animal rights group PETA who have called for him to be jailed.
Elisa Allen, Director of PETA, said: ‘The pain and fear that this puppy must have endured are almost unimaginable.
‘We implore Poole Magistrates Court to give Mr McLoughlin the maximum sentence, including prison time, counselling, and a lifetime ban on keeping animals.
‘Because repeat offences are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers – who often go on to harm humans – such acts must be treated with the utmost seriousness.’
He appeared at Poole Magistrates Court (pictured) yesterday where he pleaded guilty to ‘causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal’