Former trainee dog handler David Ormsby made several serious allegations of animal cruelty against Jersey Customs during his recent employment tribunal hearing.  

Mr Ormsby alleges that he witnessed dogs being punished "in a completely disproportionate manner". One officer is alleged to have picked a dog up by his harness, punched him in the head, and shook him violently up and down while holding onto the back of the harness. He then "threw the dog across the room to the exit, before going over to him, picking him up again, and throwing him into the hallway."

On another occasion Mr Ormsby saw an officer punish a dog that had licked his face by lashing out and punching him, sending the dog reeling across the room.

A dog trainer is alleged to have utilised cruel 'reinforcement' methods including using a dog's collar to choke him to the point where the dog lost consciousness.

These dogs perform a valuable service and deserve to be treated with decency and respect. To treat them otherwise is unprofessional and unacceptable especially of a publicly funded body, which must abide by a code of conduct.

We would ask that Mr Ormsby's allegations be thoroughly investigated. If upheld, we would ask that the behaviour be treated as gross misconduct and the perpetrators dismissed. We look forward to receiving your response to this petition.

Media: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3117043/Trainee-customs-dog-handler-claimed-fired-refusing-cruel-branded-sissy-colleagues-punch-throw-animals-wins-unfair-dismissal-case.html