25th April 2025
A man who posted videos on social media “glamorising the brutal suffering of wild animals” has been banned from keeping dogs for life.
Billy Scarah, 28, filmed dogs fighting badgers and foxes before posting them on Facebook and TikTok.
Animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation reported them to the RSPCA, which launched an investigation and found a bull lurcher dog called Buddy with severe injuries to its nose caused by a badger.
RSPCA officer Jason Bowles said: “I could see that he had a large part of his nose missing and the wound looked to be healed.
“He also had extensive scarring from wounds that looked to be healed on his head and legs. The tip of his tail was injured and bleeding.”
Scarah, of Feldane, Hull, admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and one of interfering with a badger sett when he appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court.
He was also ordered to pay £600 costs and a £187 victim surcharge and to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
RSPCA Ch Insp Ian Muttitt said: “Watching these videos glorifying and glamorising the brutal suffering of wild animals – and the dogs used to hunt them – is shocking. Sadly, this is something that can easily be found on many of the social media platforms today.
“But we’re proud to work closely with the police and other agencies, such as Naturewatch Foundation, to investigate these videos and bring the people to justice who are causing unnecessary suffering to animals, all in the name of TikTok views and Facebook likes.”
Sgt Kevin Jones, of Humberside Police, said: “The persecution of badgers is a UK wildlife crime priority and a priority for the Humberside Police Rural Task Force. Not only does it involve barbaric acts of cruelty against badgers, but it also causes horrific injuries to the dogs involved.”
Buddy was taken into RSPCA care before being rehomed.
THIS PIECE OF SHIT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS, AND WHY ARE THESE DREADFUL THINGS ALLOWED TO BE SHOWN ON FACEBOOK AND TIKTOK? IT IS TRULY DISGRACEFUL AND SHOULD BE STOPPED NOW. HOPE THIS PARASITE ROTS IN HELL.