Rescued Wirral dog to feature on ‘The Dog Rescuers’ on Channel 5 tonight

A Wirral dog who was rescued from ‘intimidation and abuse’ by the RSPCA is now happily rehomed with new owners.

Ten-year-old bull mastiff Benny was rescued by RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes and his story features on this week’s new episode of The Dog Rescuers, airing on Channel 5 tonight, Tuesday 22 June, at 7pm.

Anthony said, “Benny was seized by police from a house in Wirral after a neighbour captured video of him being tormented by his owner and reported it to the RSPCA. 

“The man was using intimidation and abuse to apparently show Benny who was ‘head of the pack’. All of the aggression was directed towards the dog. That dog would have been in his kennel shaking and fretting through pure fear.”

The man was fined and disqualified from keeping animals for two years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his dog, a mastiff, by inflicting intimidatory and abusive behaviour towards him, prodding him with a wooden stick and shouting abusive language at him.

Benny was initially very nervous when he was taken to the vets – who found scarring on his legs and pressure sores from lying on hard ground – and was then taken in by RSPCA Wirral & Chester branch while Anthony investigated. 

Benny was later rehomed by Luis Estrada and Sophie Eleanor, from Manchester. 

Sophie said, “Benny has settled in brilliantly now and is a very happy dog. In fact, he may be too happy! Vets had to amputate his tail recently because he injured it by wagging so much!

The couple spotted him online and fell in love with his description. 

“They’d written that he ‘needed a hand to hold’ and it was so endearing,” Sophie added. “We went to visit him and fell in love with him. 

“He was quite nervous when he first came here. He was anxious and wary; he didn’t know if he could trust us or not. But with time and patience he’s more settled. It’s been really rewarding to see him become so happy.”

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.