'I killed Cracker': Shropshire man bludgeoned his dog to death with an axe

Adrian Margerison struck his female Staffordshire bull terrier, Cracker, over the head.

He now faces 20 weeks in jail for the attack after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.

Margerison, 47, of Snailbeach Farm, Snailbeach, near Shrewsbury, had first fed the dog between eight and 10 Tramadol painkiller tablets.

But that failed to work, so he hit it over the head twice with the blunt end of an axe.

The attack happened in the early hours of September 22 last year at his home, Shrewsbury magistrates were told.

Roger Price, representing the RSPCA, said Margerison had called an ambulance and was in a distressed state.

Mr Price told the court: "The caller said he had struck his dog twice with an axe. Police were also called and attended the property.

"They had to push their way into the hallway of the house and once inside found Margerison crying and his hands covered in blood. A police officer found, written in blood on the wall of a room, a message to his family which included the words 'I killed Cracker'.

"He told police that he believed that his dog had cancer and had given her a lot of tablets to prevent her suffering.

"A police officer went upstairs and found the dog. There were blood splatters on the wall. The dog was lying in a pool of blood and breathing heavily. He saw a 12-inch axe next to the dog. A vet was called who came as quickly as possible.

"The dog was unconscious and had a deep wound to the back of the head. It was in shock from a loss of blood and close to death. He euthanised the dog and the RSPCA was called."

The court heard Margerison had owned the dog for eight years but believed it had cancer after having an informal conversation with a veterinary worker he had met at a garage in Minsterley.

Mr Price added: "On the evening of September 21 the defendant had been drinking between eight and 12 cans of cider and had taken some cannabis. The dog was lying on the sofa next to him when she started to whine. She then collapsed on to the floor yelping and she could not walk.

"It was as if she was in terrible pain. At between 1am-2am on September 22 he did not know what was wrong. He gave the dog between eight and 10 tablets and he thought she would just go to sleep. He wanted to let her go peacefully. But an hour later Cracker was screaming. He carried her upstairs and put a duvet over her head. He then hit her with an axe. She was still moving so he hit her a second time."

Mr Price added that a later post mortem found two injuries to the head and that there was no evidence of any tumour or underlying disease.

Mr Steven Scully for Margerison said that he had owned the dog for a number of years and on the night in question he gave her the painkillers to alleviate her chronic pain.

"He took the wrong decision to euthanaise Cracker," said Mr Scully.

Margerison was jailed and also banned from keeping animals for five years. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80. No costs were awarded.