Video footage has captured the moment a man violently began slapping his pet cat in the street. The cruel attack was caught on CCTV, with the black and white cat, named Bashik, now being cared for by the RSPCA and looking for a new, loving home.
Artur Zakowicz, of Brook Street, in Chester, has been prosecuted by the charity and has now been banned from keeping animals for five years. The incident happened on Charles Street, in Chester, close to his home, reports Cheshire Live.
Zakowicz, 46, was seen on the CCTV footage, taken on March 24, attacking his cat, grabbing him by his skin and slapping him violently six times with his hand while pushing him to the ground. He then picked up the black and white cat, called Bashik, roughly by the skin on his back before the pet managed to escape.
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Zakowicz was tracked down following the incident, with the RSPCA and Cheshire Police going to his home on April 16. When Bashik was examined later that day at RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital there were no apparent injuries from the attack, but a vet said any soft tissue damage may have healed in the time that had elapsed between the incident and the medical.
In a written statement presented to the court, RSPCA inspector Naomi Morris said she was shown CCTV footage of the attack at Blacon Police Station and she went with a police officer to the defendant’s flat. There he admitted carrying out the attack and gave the RSPCA permission to take the animal for a vet check.
The vet’s report stated: “Persisting signs of bruising and soft tissue swelling would not be expected when considering the examination was carried out 23 days after the CCTV incident. No skeletal injuries were detectable radiographically."
Zakowicz pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Chester Magistrates’ Court on October 14. He was also handed a 12-month community sentence, under which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £500.
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