Thug caught hitting puppy in the head and throwing another dog onto road jailed after video goes viral

By Shannon McGuigan

3:00 p.m. June 14, 2024, updated 3:19 p.m. June 14, 2024

• WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

This is the harrowing viral footage that helped jail a vile animal abuser who furiously beat his helpless 12-week-old puppy.

Tyler Steele, 28, sparked national anger after he was filmed beating a 12-week-old XL Bully on the street in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

As the vile animal abuser furiously pulled on Bo’s leash, the frightened dog’s cries of pain could be heard on Proudlock Avenue in Stoke-on-Trent on July 7, 2023.

The vicious thug can be heard saying: “I don’t want it anymore.” He can fuck himself off by mercilessly attacking the puppy.

The 28-year-old was also filmed in separate footage grabbing a French bulldog by the scruff of its neck and throwing it into the air from a parked car.

The separate incident, which occurred on May 2, 2023, was filmed 1.5 km from the second beating.

Steele, of Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

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He was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping animals for five years at North Staffordshire Justice Center on Monday.

After being shamed on social media, Steele then returned to the property where the footage was filmed and unapologetically declared he “didn’t care about the video”.

He said: “I told everyone it was me. I don’t care about stealing. I will treat my dog ​​the way I want to treat him.

A couple called Ashley Salmon and Megan Dawson sold the puppy to Steele for £1,000 just days before the disturbing images were released.

The couple then demanded poor Bo be returned after witnessing the horrific video on social media.

In July 2023, Mr Salmon said he was now looking after Bo after Steele violently pulled on Bo’s leash and hit her in the head.

After the ordeal, Bo was examined by a veterinarian who determined that she was healthy, except for a slight swelling just above a bloodshot left eye.

Mr Salmon said at the time: “I spent an hour with Tyler about two weeks ago when he came to me to buy Bo. She is one of three puppies for sale.

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“Based on the interaction I had with Tyler, I had no reason to suspect that he would treat Bo the way he did. He said he had other bulldogs and that he wanted a Bully XL.

“He handed over £1,000 in cash and took her away. But when I saw that video of him repeatedly hitting her around the head, I felt disgusted.

“She had only been with him for barely a week and he was doing this to her. I contacted him on Facebook and told him I wanted Bo back.

“He first said he didn’t want to part with her because she was his pet and he loved her, but I said he couldn’t love her that much if he didn’t. he was ready to beat her senseless.

“It was only after I offered him his money that he agreed to see me again and return Bo to me. But he didn’t want to talk about what he had done. He’s a coward, he just wanted to get the money.

“Bo will now stay with us as a pet. I can’t trust anyone else to take care of her properly.

“We had her checked out by the vet because she had a bloodshot left eye and a slight bump above the eye socket, but she’s much better now. She’s in good spirits.

“But no dog is safe with Tyler. He should never be allowed to own a pet again.

Following the trial, Sergeant Chris Gifford, of Staffordshire Police’s Stoke North team, said: “I am pleased with Steele’s sentence and the fact that he was banned from keeping animals for five years.

“This case sends a clear message that we will take action against animal cruelty.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “This was a very upsetting case and we were happy to help Staffordshire Police by strengthening our partnership.

“We are grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering as we work to make the world a better place for all species.”