CONVICTED (2024) | Matthew Daly, born 24 May 1992, of Manchester Road, Southport PR9 9HG – left his pet cat in agony for two weeks, with nearly every bone in his paw broken – injury unexplained.
The cat, Buddy, had broken four out of the five metacarpal bones on his front left paw and was battling a severe untreated flea allergy when he was found on the top floor of a flat on Manchester Road, Southport, in January 2023.
His owner, Matthew Daly, who’s originally from Feltham, West London, admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet Buddy’s needs following an RSPCA investigation.
South Sefton Magistrates Court heard how RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes had gone to the property after concerns were raised about Buddy’s welfare.
He said: “I noted Buddy was underweight with his spine, ribs and pelvic bones easily palpable through the skin. He was also suffering with a skin condition and I saw that his fur was thinning down his back and rear legs. Scabs could be felt under the fur and live fleas were noted.
“Daly picked Buddy up and brought him over to me and I could see his front left paw was swollen. He said that he had been suffering with an ingrown nail.”
Daly agreed to sign over his pet, and Buddy was taken for immediate veterinary treatment, where x-rays revealed multiple fractures in his paw.
The vet said the deformed paw on the cat’s left front leg was consistent with having fractured metacarpal bones, and x-rays confirmed that four out of the five bones were broken. The fracture margins and the formation of new bone suggested the breaks were between 10 and 14 days old.
During interview, Daly said Buddy was an indoor cat who belonged to someone else, but admitted he was also responsible and helped to look after him on a daily basis. He said he didn’t think Buddy was in any pain and he would have sought treatment for him if he thought he was suffering.
Happily, Buddy went on to make a full recovery at the RSPCA’s Wirral and Chester Branch. Another cat owned by Daly was also signed over into RSPCA care, and the two were adopted together.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Joynes said: “Buddy was clearly in a suffering state and needed urgent veterinary attention. It is the legal responsibility of the owner or person responsible for their animals to look for symptoms of ill health or injury and seek prompt and appropriate veterinary care. I’m relieved that Buddy is now safe and living in a loving home.”
Sentencing | fined £162. Banned from keeping any animals for just two years (expires May 2026).
CONVICTED (2024) | Thabiso Luzuko Giyo, born July 1994, currently of High Street, Chatham, but with links to Tottenham Hale, London, and Edinburgh in Scotland – for the systematic torture of a pug puppy.
The tiny seven-month-old pug, called Capri, was discovered with severe burns to her face, mouth and tongue after Giyo doused her with boiling water. She had also suffered trauma to her head. In addition, X-rays showed that she had a fracture to her right leg and healed pelvic fractures from older injuries.
The puppy was first taken to a vets in Chatham with swelling to her head believed to have been caused by trauma. A few weeks later she was back at the vets, this time with burns and injuries to her face, mouth and tongue. The RSPCA was then alerted.
The vet said in a witness statement: “Capri presented with massive burns over her face and nek. Her tongue was swollen to three times its size and sloughing.
“The substance she had been burned with also affected her left eye”.
In a court statement RSPCA Inspector Kirsten Ormerod, who investigated for the animal charity, said Capri’s owner claimed to have left her in the care of flatmate Giyo for around four hours while she went out shopping.
Inspector Ormerod added: “She stated that on her return at 6:30pm Capri had a sore face.
“She stated Giyo had wiped Capri’s face with an exfoliating glove but quite quickly Capri’s face started to swell and she was struggling to breathe so she took Capri to the emergency vet.
“She had red, open wounds to her face, nose and around her mouth. Her tongue appeared very swollen and she was not able to close her mouth due to her swollen tongue.
“She was also audibly breathing loudly and appeared lame on her back right leg and was very reluctant to put weight on it.”
Capri’s owner told Inspector Ormerod she’d informed police and had asked Giyo to leave the property, but was able to provide a contact telephone number for him.
The vet’s witness statement added: “Nobody was willing to tell us what substance Capri had been burned with. [Giyo] said he gave her a bath and used an exfoliating glove on her which didn’t add up to the severity of the injuries she presented with.
“While she was under anaesthetic for an endoscopy, she was also x-rayed. The x-rays showed a fracture of the right [leg]. The x-rays also showed healed pelvic fractures from older injuries.”
Speaking about Capri’s first stint in hospital, the vet said: “She was really calm and relaxed around females but shrank away and trembled in the presence of a male vet.
“She was absolutely terrified of males in hospital to the point where only females could handle her without stressing her out.”
When a feeding tube was fitted to help the puppy, it was later suggested that the burns had been caused by boiling water.
Two weeks after she was first admitted, Capri began eating on her own and her injuries started to improve.
In January 2023, she had surgery for her leg fracture and was moved to an RSPCA rehoming centre to recover.
She was later adopted by one of the vet nurses who saved her life.
In court Giyo, an inspiring rapper who came to the UK from Pretoria in South Africa, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
Giyo, who according to his LinkedIn profile works in network support for internet service provider Trooli, told the court that Capri’s injuries had been caused accidentally and denied having intentionally harmed the puppy,
Sentencing | 22 weeks in prison, suspended for two years; £800 in costs and £154 victim surcharge. THREE-year ban on keeping any animals (expires May 2027).
CONVICTED (2024) | mother and son Michelle Farrar of 122 Ealand Road, Batley WF17 8HT, and Ethan Lee Farrar of 15 Oakhill Road, Batley WF17 8JD – kept two dogs in a faeces-strewn property filled with hazards and starved and neglected one of them.
Persistent animal abusers Michelle and Ethan Farrar were both ordered to undertake rehabilitation. The mother received a two-year ban while her son is banned from having anything to do with animals for the next five years.
The court heard that in October 2022, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Rebecca Goulding visited an address in Oakhill Road, Batley, to check on the welfare of dogs living there.
Looking through the window ARO Goulding could see two Dogues de Bordeaux – an adult and a puppy. She said: “Both dogs looked in reasonable condition, and were bright, alert and active”.
The vile pair ignored RSPCA warnings to take proper care of their dogs and instead starved one of them and kept her in grim and hazardous conditions.
There were however concerns about the animals’ living conditions with ARO Golding stating that “the stench of urine and faeces that could be smelt from outside the property, combined with the filthy windows and stained curtains suggested that conditions inside were not suitable for the dogs. The living room appeared in complete disarray and all surfaces were covered in faeces.
“When I got inside of the house, the smell of urine and faeces in the living room was overpowering”
The RSPCA was told by the property’s resident, Ethan Farrar, that the two dogs belonged to his mother Michelle Farrar, who although the legal tenant of the Oakhill Road property, lived elsewhere, in Ealand Road.
ARO Goulding advised both the mother and son that the condition of the house at Oakhill Road was unsuitable for the dogs and that improvements must be made otherwise they would have to be removed from there.
ARO Goulding made many unsuccessful attempts to visit and contact Michelle Farrar in person. When Michelle Farrar finally did return ARO Goulding’s calls, she agreed to sign the puppy – named Rain – over to the RSPCA and to move the adult dog – Storm – from the address at Oakhill Road, to the other address in Ealand Road, which provided a more suitable environment.
Farrar was warned against the dog being returned to Oakhill Road, unless significant improvements were made to that property.
Conditions inside the property at 15 Oakhill Road, Batley
A month later, ARO Goulding returned to Oakhill Road for a spot check. To her dismay she discovered that Storm was in the property’s back yard which was full of hazards and littered with faeces.
ARO Goulding warned Ethan Farrar that if Storm was found inside the property, then she would be removed.
In February 2023, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby visited Oakhill Road for a follow up inspection, to check that Storm wasn’t being kept at the Oakhill Road house. But on arrival, she could see a now very thin Storm sitting on a faeces-covered window ledge and noticed a strong smell of faeces and urine coming from the property’s air vents.
Ethan Farrar admitted that there had been no improvements made to the condition of the property. The Farrars had once again ignored the RSPCA’s warning not to return Storm to these filthy conditions. In addition, the dog’s body condition had seriously deteriorated and she had lost a substantial amount of weight.
Inspector Hodby advised that the dog must now see a vet, that an investigation had been started and that Storm would be in RSPCA care until the investigation was concluded.
Storm was taken into the care of the RSPCA and was thoroughly examined by a vet and treatments to improve her condition were started.
Veterinarian Dr Sean Taylor, expert witness for the prosecution, reported that the evidence indicated that as well as a 3cm (1.2in) lesion on her tongue, Storm had dental disease which was causing her to experience pain. The evidence suggested that the condition had been present for some time and Storm would have suffered for a period of at least five days, but probably longer.
In addition, Dr Taylor reported that due to the house at Oakhill Road being so unhygienic and full of hazards, Storm’s needs had not been met. He added that those responsible for the welfare of this animal had failed to provide a suitable environment
RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby said: “It was the Farrars’ legal responsibility to properly care for Storm and they failed to do this. Not only did they repeatedly ignore instructions to improve the conditions that Storm was being forced to live in, but there was also no excuse for failing to get veterinary care for her when it was abundantly clear she so desperately needed it.
“This was a sad case and Storm’s suffering could have easily been avoided. The RSPCA urges anyone struggling to take care of their animal to ask for help and act on advice, rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer.”
Storm was later rehomed by the RSPCA, and though sadly diagnosed with cancer, had a new home for the remainder of her life.
Sentencing | Both were given 12 month community orders with 20 days of rehabilitation; each was ordered to pay costs of £400 and £114 victim surcharge. Michelle Farrar received a two-year ban applicable to all animals (expires April 2026) while Ethan Farrar received a five-year ban (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Reece Glossop, born c. 2000, of Wharfedale Lawns, Wetherby, Leeds LS22 6PU – abandoned two cats in an unhygienic flat littered with faeces and hazards.
Glossop left his home over the festive season, leaving his cats Daisy and Mustafa behind for nine days to fend for themselves inside the filthy and hazardous flat.
Cat faeces were behind the flat door and the area behind the living room door was covered in mouldy faeces.
No litter tray had been provided and RSPCA inspectors found faeces piled up on the floor which was also strewn with rubbish.
Glossop, who didn’t even have the decency to attend court for his first hearing, was found guilty in his absence of one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
In a a written statement read to the court RSPCA Inspector Emma Ellis described being met with a strong smell of ammonia in the communal area outside the flat during her visit on January 11, 2023.
The inspector met Glossop at the property, and he said he was cleaning to the flat.
She asked about the welfare of the cats and he said he had left on December 24 to go to London because of family issues. He said “someone was supposed to be looking after them”.
“He said he came back on December 28 to check on the cats, but he had to return to London and then he came back again on January 6. When I asked who was looking after the cats during that time he replied, ‘they were looking after themselves’,” said the inspector.
Glossop had left food in a bowl in the living room, but there was no water.
Daisy
Daisy and Mustafa were in a normal body condition, but it was later found that Mustafa had a heart murmur, which could have been caused by stress.
In mitigation, the court heard how Glossop had been diagnosed with ADHD and suffered from psychosis. He had received therapy for a personality disorder while at a psychiatric unit.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 hours of unpaid work and 15 hours of “rehabilitation”; £200 costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for just three years (expires April 2027).
CONVICTED (2024) | Brian Thomas, born c. 1980, of Robert Street, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 – kicked and punched a dog.
Thomas pictured with one of his t wo pet dogs.
Thomas admitted attacking the unnamed dog in Barrow on March 28 2024, contrary to sections 4(1) and 32(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The condition or fate of the dog has not been reported.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation requirement days; £357 in compensation, £80 fine, £114 surcharge. 12-month disqualification order relating to dogs
CONVICTED (2024) | Lynn Haydon-Williams, born 6 April 1960, of Redgate, Hyde SK14 5DE, and Charlotte Haydon-Williams, born 17 November 1988, of Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde SK14 5DF – for the neglect of multiple animals in the care of their sanctuary.
Mother and daughter Lynn and Charlotte Haydon-Williams were found guilty of a number of offences following a trial on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The court heard how neglected horses, including one suffering with multiple tumours, lame goats, pigs with hoof problems and an arthritic coatimundi were found at the Haywill Animal Centre by the RSPCA.
During 2020 and 2021, the RSPCA identified animal welfare concerns at sites in Glossop, Derbyshire and Broadbottom in Manchester.
The RSPCA had visited the rescue on previous occasions during which they had offered support and advice to the founder/owner Lynn Haydon-Williams.
In a statement read to the court RSPCA inspector Jessica Araujo said she recalled attending the centre on May 11, 2021, when she saw “goats with overgrown feet that were struggling to walk normally, grossly obese pigs, a coati that appeared to have small masses on its underside and a horse with overgrown feet”.
Inspector Araujo continued: “I saw a number of large goats with overgrown hooves that appeared to have difficulty walking normally or walking at all. There was also a black pygmy goat who looked quite thin and you could feel his spine and hips when you put your hands on him.”
Among the animals taken into the care of the RSPCA was Gemma, a grey bay mare, who was covered in skin tumours. A vet later decided that the kindest course of action was to put her to sleep to end her suffering.
Another horse, called Casper, who was suffering from laminitis was also, sadly, put to sleep, as was a pot-bellied pig, who was suffering from overgrown feet.
An emaciated pygmy goat and the coatimundi, who was in poor health, passed away later.
Several of the horses required treatment for foot and hoof ailments.
In mitigation for Lynn Haydon-Williams, the court was told she previously did “a lot of good work for many people for a long time”. It was said that Covid impacted the rescue’s finances and lessened her ability to look after the animals. It was said that she had not deliberately mistreated the animals.
The court heard that Charlotte Haydon-Williams suffered from health problems which affected her care of the horse. The court accepted she was not responsible for the care of the other animals.
Lynn Haydon-Williams initially pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, but she was convicted of 13 offences after a trial.
Charlotte Haydon-Williams pleaded not guilty to the same 15 charges and was convicted of three offences relating to the care of a horse. It was ruled she had no case to answer on the remaining 12 charges.
The surviving animals – a horse and 10 goats – will be rehomed by the RSPCA.
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Araujo said: “This owner was given ample time and opportunity to get the help she needed to give these animals the veterinary care and treatment they needed. Sadly, she did not take action and the animals suffered for longer than they had to.”
Sentencing | Lynn Haydon-Williams: six-month custodial suspended for 18 months; 240 hours of unpaid work; £240 costs and £156 victim surcharge. She was given a lifetime disqualification from keeping animals except for dogs and cats.
Charlotte Haydon-Williams: 12-month community order; fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping horses for three years (expires March 2027).
CONVICTED (2024) | Natalie Hewson, born c. 1988, of Phillip Lawson House, Norfolk Road, Newton, Chester CH2 2LD – left her severely ill elderly cat to die alone in her abandoned flat.
Hewson was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the 13-year-old pet, called Zippy, died alone in the empty flat in Norfolk Road, Chester.
During an appearance at Chester Magistrates Court she pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Zippy and failing to meet her needs during August and September 2023.
The RSPCA investigated Hewson after receiving a report that a cat had died after being left unattended at Hewson’s home. Zippy’s body had been removed from the property a week earlier by someone who knew Hewson and buried at another address.
In written evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes who collected Zippy’s remains, said: “I was directed to the rear of the garden and observed a tabby and white female deceased cat which had been removed from a shallow grave prior to my arrival.
“The carcass of the cat was in poor bodily condition with ribs, spine and pelvic bones palpable through the skin.”
Post-mortem examination report showed Zippy had chronic kidney disease that had progressed to renal failure and led to her death on or around September 4, 2023.
Hewson later told Inspector Joynes her cat appeared “fine” three to four days prior to this.
Zippy, who was abandoned by her cruel owner to die.
The vet who carried out the post mortem said adequate supervision of Zippy should have alerted her owner to observe excessive thirst and the need to seek prompt veterinary advice regarding cause and treatment.
“A cat affected by chronic renal disease will display outward signs of clinical abnormality including weight loss – not unusual for a senior cat – but also excessive thirst and urination,” said the vet.
“Each of these observations relies upon the regular (at least daily) and frequent supervision of the cat in order to be able to identify such abnormalities.
“The evidence indicates that Zippy had been left unsupervised for repeated periods of four days, and when she was supervised this was for very short periods of time, just enough for the responsible person to provide further food and water without a significant period of observation of the cat’s behaviour.
“In my opinion the needs of Zippy had not been met due to a lack of adequate supervision with a failure to adequately monitor her and ensure she was not showing signs of illness or disease. The failure to meet the needs her needs also led to her having unrecognised chronic renal disease which had progressed to renal failure.”
Inspector Joynes made repeated attempts during October and November 2023 to contact Hewson to interview her about Zippy but got no response.
On November 15 the inspector spoke to a man at a property at Llay in Wrexham where Hewson was said to be staying and left a message asking her to get in touch urgently.
Numerous further attempts to make contact were made until an interview was finally conducted on December 6.
In it, Hewson told the officer she had left the property in Chester because of asbestos and that the council had taken longer than anticipated to fix it. She accepted she had been to the flat about ten times in 30 days, staying for about ten minutes at a time, but admitted she should have done more.
She said she was “devastated” when Zippy died and didn’t know she was unwell.
Speaking after the case Inspector Joynes said: “Life often throws changes in circumstance at us but it’s important to ensure the needs of animals you are responsible for are always met. Zippy was let down by her owner at a time when she needed her most and with tragic consequences.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 140 hours of unpaid work; £240 costs and a victim surcharge of £114. Two-year disqualification order applicable to all animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | Samuel Bodington, born 22 May 1990, of Aire Street, Goole DN14 5QE – strangled a chihuahua and attacked his girlfriend in a drug-fuelled rage.
Image credit: HullLive
Bodington’s girlfriend was looking after the female dog, known as Luna, because she had been cruelly mistreated by a previous owner. Following the vicious attack by junkie Bodington, the tiny pet was left with her tongue hanging out and became “very shaken and jumpy”.
Sentencing was originally imposed in July 2023 after Bodington admitted the intentional strangulation of his girlfriend and causing unnecessary suffering to her pet dog. He was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence but this was activated in late March 2024 after he repeatedly failed to attend appointments with the probation service.
Michael Forrest, prosecuting, told the original hearing that Bodington’s girlfriend had been looking after Luna.
Bodington arrived at her home in Goole at 7.30pm on April 21, 2023, for a party where everyone was drinking. He and his girlfriend took Pregabalin tablets obtained from a drug dealer.
“The defendant’s behaviour changed like a switch had been flipped,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington became agitated and he was hallucinating and being loud and aggressive, causing the woman to become scared.
“She told him to leave but he didn’t leave,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington began calling her names. She was lying on a sofa with the dog when Bodington launched himself at her and dragged them both to the floor. While they were on the floor, he took hold of her throat and the neck of the dog.
He squeezed the woman’s neck, causing her to gasp for air, and he held on to the dog’s neck, causing her tongue to hang out of her mouth.
The woman forced Bodington to release his grip. She alerted the police and Bodington was arrested.
“Luna was very shaken and jumpy,” said Mr Forrest. The woman later said that Bodington’s attack on her was unprovoked.
During the original hearing Judge John Thackray KC told Bodingonn: “Your behaviour on the evening in question was appalling. Your victim must have been terrified. The dog must have been terrified.
“This could have been so much more serious. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds from when someone is strangled to them losing consciousness.”
Sentencing | 16-month immediate custodial (previously suspended), Banned from keeping animals for just two years (expires July 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Peter Shelley, born c. 1977, of Warbreck Avenue, Walton, Liverpool L9 8DJ – failed to treat a pocket bully puppy with a skin condition, bilateral ear infection and vaginal prolapse.
Shelley, previously of Shrewsbury Road, Prenton, the Wirral, had denied causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the dog’s needs, but was found guilty at a trial.
The dog, a young pocket bully called Peggy who was only a puppy at the time, had multiple health conditions when she was found at the Prenton flat on April 23 2023.
The court heard how police officers had gone to the flat to carry out a welfare check on Peggy after Shelley was taken into custody.
Officers alerted the RSPCA with concerns about the dog’s condition after noticing bloodied bedding in her crate.
In his evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, who responded to the incident, said: “The dog had been seized by officers and I advised that she should be taken urgently to a vet for assessment.
“I attended the flat at Shrewsbury Road. There was no response and no access through the side gate so I left a calling card requesting that the owner/person responsible for the dog respond.
“I made arrangements for a colleague to collect the dog the following day and transport her to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”
The first vet who examined Peggy on April 23 said she had a low body condition score, inflamed, crusting dermatitis affecting her ears, chin, eyelids and chest, a bilateral infection of both ear canals and a vaginal prolapse.
In written evidence to the court, she said: “In my professional opinion I believe that the conditions had been present for a duration of longer than three weeks.
“I do not believe any treatment was being administered to this patient and no professional help had been sought for the vaginal prolapse.”
A second vet who examined Peggy at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital on 24 April diagnosed an ulcerated vaginal prolapse, a bilateral ear infection and a skin allergy which had caused severe itching and alopecia.
She said: “Given the severity of Peggy’s condition on presentation, in my opinion she will have suffered for two weeks, as a minimum, likely longer”.
During the course of the RSPCA’s investigation a local charity confirmed that Peggy had been in their care on April 10, 2023, after she was found straying.
Shelley reclaimed her three days later but ignored the advice of kennel stuff to get her urgent veterinary treatment.
Shelley was interviewed and said Peggy was being well looked after. He said he didn’t think her ears were that bad, and although he could see the prolapse she seemed okay.
Peggy was initially looked after at a private boarding establishment on behalf of the RSPCA before being transferred to the charity’s Macclesfield, SE Cheshire and Buxton Branch, where she went into foster care.
She made a good recovery and in early March 2024 was adopted. She has settled well into her new home.
Speaking after the trial, Inspector Joynes said: “Peggy is such a sweet little dog and has been a favourite with all the people who have assisted in her rescue, treatment and rehoming.
“She was let down severely by her owner who should have sought veterinary care much sooner for a number of issues.
“I’d like to thank the police officers who seized Peggy on the day for going above and beyond to make sure she was safe.
“Here’s hoping she now can have a long happy life with her new family.”
Sentencing | ten-week custodial, suspended for 12 months, with a further eight weeks suspended for non-related matters. Disqualified from keeping animals for just 18 months (expires September 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Chad Kemp, who also uses the alias Joe Lawler, born April 1995, of Gilpin Court, Newton Aycliffe DL5 5EN – left two dogs unattended in a squalid flat.
Animal abuser Chad Kemp, who blamed “mental health issues” for his cruelty, only received a three-year ban despite sustained neglect of his dogs
Kemp ignored RSPCA warnings about the conditions at the property his two wolfhounds, Poppy and Marley, were living in and often left them unattended for several days at a time
The court heard that RSPCA Inspectors Gemma Lynch and John Lawson had gone to the ground floor flat in Gilpin Court on May 3, 2023, following reports that the pets had been left unattended.
Tapes had previously been placed over the door lock on a previous visit to check if anyone was entering the property but these were still intact.
In a written statement to the court, Inspector Lynch said: “We were informed that Mr Kemp had not been seen for some time. We returned with police and Mr Kemp was located.
“Strong advice was given to him in regards to not leaving the dogs unattended and to ensure they were not returned to the address until it was a suitable living area.
“Mr Kemp agreed and assured us he would take the dogs to his friends until the flat was cleaned and he removed the dogs while we were present.”
In his evidence, Inspector Lawson described conditions inside the flat as ‘hazardous’ and noted there was medication within reachable height of the dogs on the coffee table.
Three days later Inspector Lynch visited the flat again and spoke to someone there who knew Kemp. He told her the defendant had not returned to the address for days and that he was sitting outside because the smell of urine inside the property was giving him breathing difficulties.
On entering the flat the inspector found it covered in rubbish and faeces and smelling strongly of ammonia.
Poppy (left) and Marley will now be rehomed by the RSPCA after the court granted a deprivation order
Poppy and Marley were back living inside and were subsequently seized by police.
Both dogs, who were described as being in a ‘lean’ condition, were taken to a vet to be checked over before being transferred to a private boarding facility to be looked after on behalf of the RSPCA.
A further visit to the flat was made by inspector Lynch on May 25. Kemp was at home and was advised that an investigation was underway. He said he would consider signing the dogs over into RSPCA care, although this didn’t happen.
The passageway and bathroom appeared to have been cleaned up, the court heard, but there were still dog faeces stuck to the floor in various areas and the living room was full of rubbish and unsuitable for animals to be living in.
Repeated attempts were made to arrange an interview with Kemp in the months that followed but phone calls went unanswered and there was no reply at the property or at another address where he was said to be currently living.
Kemp admitted he had failed to meet his pets’ needs by providing them with a suitable environment.
In mitigation the court heard Kemp had been suffering from poor mental health.
Poppy and Marley are being cared for at the RSPCA’s York, Harrogate & District Branch rehoming centre and can now be rehomed by the charity.
Sentencing | three-year ban on keeping animals, except for cockatiels (expires March 2027). Deprivation order on Poppy and Marley.
