This is the horrifying moment a laughing thug headbutted his pet bulldog, jumped on it and threw it down the stairs.
Andrew Frankish, 22, from Redcar, North Yorkshire, was seen driving his dog Baby into the ground from head height, swinging it around and stamping on her – while filmed by his brother Daniel, 19.
Baby lost the use of her hind legs and was put to sleep three months after the incident – and a petition has now been launched for the brothers’ sentences to be increased after they avoided jail.
On camera: A clip shows Andrew Frankish picking Baby up at the top of the stairs before throwing her down
Distressing: Frankish, of North Yorkshire, was videoed throwing Baby down (seen at the bottom of the stairs)
Last week they were sentenced at Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court to 21 weeks in prison, suspended for two years and a tagged curfew for six months, after pleading guilty to animal cruelty.
Mobile phone clips filmed by Daniel show Andrew picking Baby up at the top of wooden stairs before throwing her down. He is also seen lifting her over his head as the men laugh hysterically.
The offences took place more than two years ago in October 2013 but did not come to light until footage was discovered on a memory card on a supermarket floor.
RSPCA inspector Gemma Lynch said: ‘The whole horrible ordeal seems to be for his and the younger man’s entertainment, for fun.
‘Everyone who has seen the video says it’s the most distressing thing they’ve ever seen. These are people who have seen a lot of horrible things.’
Shocking scene: The 22-year-old laughing thug was seen headbutting his pet bulldog Baby and jumping on it
Incriminating video: The offences in 2013 came to light only when footage was discovered on a memory card
Sad case: Baby was put to sleep three months following the incident after losing the use of her hind legs
Following the sentencing a petition on Change.org to increase their sentence has attracted more than 62,000 signatures, and is attracting 100 more every ten minutes.
Petition organiser Alex Richardson-Lee, 24, explained that it was the ‘sheer brutality’ of the video which drove him to demand for a change in their punishment.
Mr Richardson-Lee, a military medic from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said: ‘These boys are clearly enjoying what they are doing to this puppy.
‘The bulldog was obviously terrified and she couldn’t fight back. It just really angered me and I thought, I can’t let this sit.
‘The footage is horrifying and the RSPCA inspector involved in the case said it was one of the most harrowing cases she had ever dealt with. It really riled me.’
Public outrage: Following the sentencing a petition on Change.org to increase the brothers’ sentence has attracted more than 62,000 signatures, and is attracting 100 more every ten minutes
Prompting fury: The petition’s organiser explained that it was the ‘sheer brutality’ of the video which drove him to demand for a change in the brothers’ punishment
He added: ‘The sheer callousness of what they did is absolutely disgusting. I’ve kept dogs in the past – I keep reptiles now – and I don’t understand how anyone could do something like this.
The petition is fast approaching its target of 75,000. Petitions having 100,000 signatories are generally guaranteed to be raised in Parliament.
Mr Richardson-Lee described the response to his petition as ‘phenomenal’, adding: ‘People are starting to notice and the numbers are really climbing.
‘I’ve also set up fundraising on the site and 100 per cent of that will go to the RSPCA centre that dealt with Baby and looked after the conviction.
‘Even if nothing happens with regard to the sentencing, I will have achieved something.’
Last week Cleveland Police confirmed they sent an officer to the men’s address in Redcar on Friday as tensions ran high in the local community, although no offences were committed.
