https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48766531
They should make it 10 so they actually do 5 years. Personally I can't abide animal cruelty so I'd probably put them a pit of starving pit bulls and be done with it but some may see that as a bit extreme.
As I've said before on here, according to the RSPCA, 95% of prosecutions for animal cruelty are brought against animal owners.
The case of the dog in Bootle reminds me of my uncle who used to be a bus guard in Manchester when some buses had doors at the near side rear. A guy with a dog jumped on the moving bus and the doors closed before the dog could get on. The bus sped away for two stops without the driver knowing and when he stopped, the dog dropped dead. Just an accident. Cest la vie.