A sadistic badger baiter who filmed his dogs ripping apart wild animals was caught with the “worst” videos of cruelty ever seen by Scottish SPCA inspectors.
Callum Muir used his terrier Pip, lurcher Bella and bull lurcher Mig to fight animals like badgers and foxes.
The depraved 25-year-old could be heard laughing in one horrific clip as a fox was torn in half.
In another, a fox was shown being attacked by two dogs while a man stamped on the defenceless animal’s head.
Muir was nailed after the SSPCA received a tip-off that he was keeping dogs for animal fighting.
Inspectors raided his Ayrshire home and found the trio of dogs who had suffered multiple injuries during fights.
Muir appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday and pled guilty to five charges under animal welfare laws.
Muir admitted keeping or training an animal for fighting animals, being involved in animal fighting, and causing animals unnecessary suffering.
The SSPCA executed a search warrant at Muir’s address in the village of Logan last May. Inspectors found items associated with animal fighting, such as locator collars for tracking dogs underground in setts and nets for catching creatures bolting from dens.
An undercover Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector said: “We also recovered a number of videos and images in Muir’s possession showing dogs, including the three he owned, fighting wild animals.
“In my line of work, unfortunately I’ve seen many such videos and images but I can categorically say that these are among the worst I’ve ever viewed.
“The level of cruelty on the videos is staggering.
“In many of them, Muir can be heard encouraging his dogs to attack badgers and foxes while the wild animals scream in pain.
“In one particularly disturbing video he can be heard laughing as a fox is degloved while still alive and then ripped in half by dogs.
“In another, a fox is attacked by Bella and Pip while a man stamps on the animal’s head. Again, Muir can be heard laughing throughout the clip.
“In addition to these videos there are several images showing dogs with extensive injuries consistent with animal fighting.
“One dog is shown and the animal’s mouth, nose and lower jaw area are missing and have been ripped away, a type of injury we often see dogs sustain from prolonged fights with badgers.”
Muir’s three dogs had endured a number of injuries.
The inspector added: “The terrier, Pip, had multiple scars over her head and legs.
“Bella the lurcher had heavy scarring on her face and down her neck, she also had some scarring on her legs. Her lips were torn and distorted where they’d healed from old injuries. Both dogs had numerous missing and broken teeth.
“Mig had some scarring to her muzzle and legs but as she was a much larger, stronger and younger dog it’s likely she’d been able to avoid serious injury up to this point.
“Muir admitted when questioned that the dogs had not been to the vets in a long time, suggesting he was attempting to treat any injuries they sustained himself.”
The SSPCA said the lack of treatment meant the dogs “suffered terribly if wounded during a fight” and nerve exposure from broken teeth would’ve caused “extreme discomfort”.
Muir will be sentenced next month.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
