Bulldog pup, Bernie, was punched by his owner in a series of attacks ‘lasting at least 10 minutes’
16:53, 14 Jul 2025Updated 16:53, 14 Jul 2025
Bulldog Bernie was attacked by his owner in Birmingham on ‘at least three occasions’ leaving him with fractures and ‘shut down’
A bulldog was beaten up by its owner in Birmingham with a series of sustained attacks, leaving the dog with a number of fractures.
Bernie, who was less than a year old, was beaten up ‘on at least three occasions’ before he was rescued by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
The 11-month-old pup was rushed to an RSPCA animal hospital where X-rays showed he also had cheek and multiple historic rib fractures.
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They showed that he had sustained these bone fractures on at least three separate incidents.
The RSPCA said: “Heartbreakingly, Bernie’s injuries were consistent with his owner punching him a number of times for a duration of at least 10 minutes.”
Bernie’s owner, who the RSPCA is not naming as the offences were not recent, received a suspended 12-week jail term and was banned from keeping all animals for life.
He was also ordered to carry out unpaid work and was fined.
The RSPCA is highlighting Bernie’s case as part of its seasonal cruelty campaign as it says as it says attacks on animals ‘peak in the summer’.
Bernie was treated at the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital in Birmingham before being transferred to the RSPCA Northamptonshire Branch where he was cared for and later rehomed.
Some of the injuries sustained by Bernie included fractures to his cheek and ribs
Kate Whitehead from the branch said: “He was a bit shut down when he arrived, everything was new and he was very uncertain but when we moved him to foster care and got him in a home environment he soon changed.
“He got used to his favourite spot on the sofa and formed a strong bond with his fosters, especially their son.
“He became more playful and became the puppy he wasn’t allowed to be before.
“He unravelled out of his shell and started lapping up attention.
“He became a happy-go-lucky boy, his confidence was being built up, and I think he was reassured that no one was going to hit him again.”
Bernie is now back in good health and enjoying life with his new family after going through hell with his last one in Birmingham
The RSPCA said after ‘recovering well’ in foster care, Bernie was rehomed to Lucie Johnstone, 39, Amanda Hunt, 45, and Amanda’s children, Maisie, 19, and Kieran, 18, in Nottingham.
Lucie described the change that took place in Bernie after her family took care of him, from at first stealing shoes, to becoming one of the family
She said: “All of a sudden, about two or three weeks in, he completely changed.
“After that, he settled in really quickly. We’ve had no issues. The only signs of what happened to him is that we have noticed him getting a little upset around men.
“As there are no men in our house, except for my step-son, when a man came to fit some carpet in the house, he barked at him which was really unusual.
“I think he’s barked a maximum of eight times in the whole time we’ve had him. Then Amanda took Bernie into work with her and he saw a man there and became quite animated and sort of bowed down in front of him. But he has absolutely no aggressive behaviour whatsoever.
“Based on what he’s like now, and when you consider what he must have been through, you wouldn’t necessarily know any of that had happened to him at all!”
Bernie is now thriving after being rehomed from Birmingham where he suffered sustained attacks being punched by his owner
Bernie likes porridge – earning him the nickname ‘baby bear’ and enjoys playing in the garden where he tries to eat plants.
Lucie continued: “Bernie is just perfect really. He’s cheeky and has lots of personality but not too full-on.
“If you’re feeling any stress, he immediately snaps you out of it.
“He gets us out walking, and in nature, and it’s so lovely when he gives you that undivided love – when he’s not being a grumpy teenager!
“We all love him, we have a Bernie WhatsApp chat where we share pictures and videos and discuss who is walking him that day.
“He’s very cuddly. He’s put on 5kg since he’s been with us but he still thinks he’s a lap dog.
“With our previous dog we had one settee that was for the dog but Bernie wasn’t having any of it, and had to be with us on the settee.
“He will just plonk himself down on your knee, even if you’ve got a laptop on your knee, he has no sense of personal space!”
“Jody, aged 29, was last seen at midnight today (13 July).”
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An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “Summer should be a season of joy for animals. Long walks on golden evenings. Zoomies on the beach.
“Stretching out in the garden to soak up the sun. But there’s a side to summer you don’t see.
“For thousands of animals, it’s a season of pain, fear and suffering, when cruelty peaks.
“Together, we can rescue animals from the worst cruelty, provide life-saving treatment, and give them all the care and love they urgently need. Please donate today: rspca.org.uk/endcruelty.”
Animal Rescue Officer, Cara Gibbon, added: “To know that he is now in a loving and safe home is amazing.
“We do the job to help animals have better lives so to know that he is now happy as a result of our work, is a brilliant feeling!”