Arbaz Hamza Hamid, 24, lashed out after he and four other co-owners had raged at terrified animal surgeon Tim Stead, 64.
He was left nursing a bloody nose and needing sutures for injuries inflicted at his York surgery.
Hamid claimed the dog, named Empress, had cost £20,000 from the US and was kept solely as a “family pet”, even though the three men and two women owners were not related.
But Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said it had most likely been used for breeding. Prosecutors estimate its true cost was £4,000. Yesterday Mr Stead told the Express: “I’ve had other threats because people are increasingly upset about losing their investments when dogs they buy for breeding die.”
“But this was the first time I’ve been attacked. It’s a particular problem with co-owners.”
“It wasn’t nice but I told the police if he came and apologised then I’d be happy for that to be the end of it. Life is too short. But he didn’t want to do that, he wanted retribution.”
“It’s a shame, it was a lovely natured dog who had twisted intestines. I’m just sad I wasn’t able to save it.”
Victoria Barker, prosecuting, told York Crown Court Hamid had punched Mr Stead in the face, driving his glasses into his face so hard they left an imprint in the skin and made three cuts.
The five joint owners had been giving the dog around the clock care before a man and woman took it to the vet on January 16, 2023.
They were told it needed surgery and warned the chances of survival were just “one in five”.
Later that day Mr Stead rang the couple to tell them the dog had died and at 4.15pm, the five co-owners arrived in two cars and confronted the vet in a consultation room.
At one point, one of the men – not Hamid – punched the wall. Hamid, of Rotherham, told police he had loved the dog and had acted impulsively. He pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.
Jailing him for seven months Judge Morris said: “This was the loss of a big investment, that is what this was all about. I don’t accept this was an impulsive act.”
“This was the coup de grace of an increasingly hostile situation. This was a punishment beating by you.”
It will become illegal to own XL bully dogs from February 1, unless the animal is on the exempted dogs list.
Owners who keep their dogs must register them by January 31 and microchip, neuter and keep their pet on a muzzle and on a lead in public.
