Tag Archives: pensioner

Animal Abandonment, Equine Abuse, Hoarders, horses and ponies, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire: Dianne Pearson

May 2, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Dianne Pearson, born c. 1953, from Sowerby Bridge – for cruelty offences to 10 horses, many of whom were put to sleep.

RSPCA prosecution of Dianne Pearson from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, for cruelty to 10 horses in her care.

Concerns about Pearson’s horses were raised with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare in April 2023, and officers went to the scene in the village of Norland, Sowerby Bridge. There they discovered 10 horses and ponies kept in cramped, dirty stables and building. Faeces and soiled bedding had built up to the extent that the horses were struggling to stand.

Some of the horses had difficulty walking due to lameness while many were suffering from dental issues and other health problems. One horse was so thirsty he drank readily from a bucket of water when offered to him.

In her witness statement, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby said all the horses were being kept in unsuitable conditions.

“There was no ventilation and very limited lighting inside,” she said. “All the stables were piled high with bedding and faeces and it was clear they had not been mucked out in some time. The bedding inside all the stables was piled so high that most of the horses’ heads were touching the roof. There was no water inside any of the stables.”

She added: “During our visit, Pearson admitted that Bud had not been out of his stable for two years and it took her over 10 minutes to dig the muck from behind Ellie’s stable door before she could open it and get her out. It also took her some time to dig out another horse called Rio.”

Rescuers had to dig their way into some of their stables owing to the build-up of soiled bedding and faeces.

Four horses were removed that day and six the next; all were examined by an equine vet, whose witness statement said: “In my opinion the environmental conditions these horses were found in were completely and wholly unsuitable.

“Many of the stables were in complete or mostly in darkness and most had little ventilation.This meant that when some of the horses reached the boarding establishment, they found normal visual things extremely stressful, and one horse had to be medicated for this. This shows the psychological suffering caused to these horses.

“The owner failed to take steps to meet the needs of these animals, and this has caused suffering in all of the horses due to the poor and unsuitable environments, and five out of 10 of these horses due to ailments observed.”

Pearson signed six horses over to the care of the RSPCA. After the case a deprivation order was secured so the remaining four came into the charity’s care.

After the case, Ms Hodby said: “I am so pleased to see Fern, Cody, Inca and JJ are thriving with our team at RSPCA Felledge, and delighted to hear that Tilly and Finn have already found their forever homes.

“This was a really sad case to work on and to see ponies kept in such awful conditions was heartbreaking. I’d like to say thank you to our colleagues at World Horse Welfare for their assistance in the rescue and investigating. Working together with other agencies allows us to reach more horses and ponies that need our help and make a big difference to animal welfare.”

Vets made the decision to put Bling, Bud, Ellie and Rio down for health reasons.

World Horse Welfare field officer Gilly Howard said: “Having been shut in those small and dirty stables for so long, Tilly was a very nervous pony and especially difficult to catch. But our amazing team at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lancashire are working with her to gain her trust and the conclusion of this case means that she can be assessed with a view to finding her a forever home.”

Pearson’s age and her early guilty pleas were considered in mitigation, and it was agreed that although she “feels no particular remorse for the suffering occasioned to her horses”, she “does feel a sense of sadness and believes she always tried her best”.

“The defendant has come to accept that she doesn’t want any of the horses returned to her. She has no desire to keep horses in the future.”

Sentencing | 20-week suspended prison sentence for each of the four offences, to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation activity; £7,000 costs. Disqualified from owning horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and their hybrids indefinitely, with no right of appeal for 15 years.

Horse & Hound

Animal Abandonment, Reptiles / Exotics

Clayton, Manchester: Colin Birch

February 13, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Colin Birch, born c 1956, of Auden Close, Clayton, Manchester M11 4WD – for the mistreatment of several reptiles.

RSPCA prosecution. Manchester animal abuser Colin Birch allowed one iguana to roam freely around his home and two others plus a lizard were crammed into a small fish tank with only rotting food.

Birch was found guilty in his absence of two offences. The first – which took place in February 2022 – involved the neglect of three iguanas and a spiny-tailed lizard; while the other involved the neglect of five further iguanas in June 2022.

The RSPCA first visited Birch’s flat in February 2022 after concerns were raised about the welfare of ‘lizards’ in the property.

The RSPCA officer – accompanied by police – entered the property and found three iguanas and a lizard being kept in very worrying conditions.

One of the iguanas was roaming free around the dangerously cluttered and overheated flat and another two iguanas plus a spiny-tailed lizard were crammed into a very small fish tank with only rotten or dried up food.

There was no source of UV (crucial to the health of iguanas), no temperature controls and no thermometer.

Given these conditions, the police seized all four reptiles and after being checked by a vet, the RSPCA organised for them to be cared for at a specialist boarding establishment.

In June 2022, the RSPCA was called back to the same property – now unoccupied – to check on five more iguanas who had been left alone to fend for themselves in the flat.

This time, two very young iguanas were found in a pet carrier, one adult was found in a fish tank with no access to drinking water, and two were found roaming loose in the hazardous flat.

Again, the animals had no access to UV or appropriate food or water.

These additional five iguanas were also taken away to be safely cared for in a specialist boarding establishment.

A specialist in exotic pets was provided with photographs from both incidents and stated that the property was full of potential dangers, and the tanks were not not the right size to provide an appropriate environment for these types of animals.

From the February incident, there were too many animals in one tank. In addition, the temperature and humidity required for the reptiles’ needs would not have been met.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Dan Tomlinson said: “Pet reptiles rely on their owners to provide an environment in which their welfare needs are met, which sadly didn’t happen in this case, even after detailed advice was offered to the defendant.

“The needs of exotics can be challenging to meet by members of the public because the pet animals’ needs are just the same as they would be if they lived in the wild and require conditions that can be difficult to replicate in a home.

“The RSPCA advises that prospective owners of exotic pets should thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required in the care of the animal, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs.”

He added: “Every year, my colleagues and I are called out to rescue many hundreds of exotic pets which have been neglected or abandoned. These are wild animals and meeting their needs in captivity can be incredibly challenging. We believe that people may buy exotic pets with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep. They often end up in our care after people realise they’re not easy to care for, or once the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.”

Exotic pet owners need to make sure they can give their animal the environment it needs and that they have the facilities, time, financial means and long-term commitment to maintain a good standard of care, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Sentencing | nine-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity; fine of £100 and a victim surcharge of £95. Banned from owning animals for five years (expires February 2029).

Manchester Evening News

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Abernant, Carmarthenshire: Beverly Gilson and John Howard

December 23, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | hoarders/breeders Beverly Gilson, born 28 May 1959, and John Howard, born 15 November 1951, previously of Eastville, Bristol and now of Trallwyn, Abernant, Carmarthen SA33 5RL – kept 48 severely neglected dogs in a “house of horrors”.

West Wales hoarders/breeders Beverly Gilson and John Howard,kept 48 severely neglected dogs and a cat in a "house of horrors". — Pet hoarders/breeders Beverly Gilson and John Howard received a five-year ban on keeping animals after 48 neglected dogs and a cat were found in filthy conditions at their home

RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben described the scene of shocking neglect that confronted him during his first visit to the remote property shared by Beverly Gilson and John Howard. He said: “I could hear a large amount of dogs inside and when entering the kitchen area found there to be many dogs kept in cages, some stacked on top of each other, other dogs were running loose in the house.

“The conditions in the kitchen area were in a poor state with many of the dogs having matted coats and no bedding in their cages, some dogs had water provided by rabbit bottles attached to the cages.

“The smell of dog faeces and urine was overpowering, the room was dark with very little natural light coming in and the dogs were barking constantly.

“I noticed one dog in particular being kept in a small rodent cage and this dog was continually spinning in the cage, there was little room for anything else in this cage.

“Many of the dogs in these cages had faeces present that had not been cleaned out and there was faeces trodden into the floor of the kitchen area.”

“In the living room several more dogs were found in cages in similar conditions as found in the kitchen. Here there was no carpet and a “strong smell of dog faeces and urine.”

In three of the upstairs rooms he found dogs to be present – two of these rooms were three bearded collie type dogs. In the third bedroom there were five dogs in cages in similar conditions to downstairs.
Inspector Hogben added that there were several dogs loose in this bedroom with “obvious matted coats”.

“The smell of urine and faeces in this third bedroom was one of the worst I have smelt in my near-24 years with the RSPCA,” he said.

“There was no window open and when I opened the door to this bedroom I was taken aback by the smell, it made me cough and retch.”

He explained to Gilson and Howard that the conditions were unacceptable and many of the dogs were in a suffering state and a vet needed to examine the dogs.

Two days later Inspector Hogben returned with a vet and RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Cooper.

Inspector Hogben said: “Many of the dogs from upstairs on my last visit were now downstairs and there were still a large amount of dogs in cages. The smell of urine, faeces was again overpowering even though Beverly Gilson had opened windows.”

The vet informed him that the animals needed to be removed. Throughout that day each dog was brought out of the property and examined by the vet.

“Many of these dogs were in a poor condition with heavily matted coats, overgrown nails and some had eye issues, there was also an unpleasant smell coming from the dogs,” said inspector Hogben.

In total 39 dogs were signed over to the RSPCA for rehoming – with Hope Rescue and The Dogs Trust attending to assist with 21 of the dogs.
Gilson and Howard decided they wanted to keep nine dogs and the cat – but would voluntarily allow the RSPCA to remove them from the property as they did not want police attendance.

Sadly the cat – who was very poorly – was put to sleep on welfare grounds and two dogs were also put to sleep on veterinary advice – with permission sought from the owner.

In a written statement from DCI Cooper she said when she entered the property “the foul smell hit me and as I got even further into the property, my eyes started to water.

She added: “I have been an RSPCA Inspector for 12 years and I can’t remember the last time a property made my eyes water like this.

“The house was extremely chaotic with dogs barking and running everywhere. Near to the front door was a heavily matted, white, toy poodle type dog standing on a table that Beverly Gilson was in the middle of grooming. I could see fleas crawling all over her and she was trembling. Her skin looked pink and she appeared extremely uncomfortable.

“There were approximately 18 dogs in the first room, some free roaming and some in cages. There were puppy pads placed on the floor and inside the crates; urine was seen on many of the pads as well as on the floor of the house.

“Dog faeces, some that had been trod in by other dogs, was also seen on the floor throughout the property.

“The dogs in the crates had no access to a comfortable resting area or a separate toileting area and shockingly, they had access to water through a rabbit drinking bottle.

“In the kitchen area there were approximately 30 dogs, again some free roaming and many in crates. Many of the dogs were very nervous and others jumped up at the crate, craving attention. I noted one dog was spinning in her crate.”

DCI Cooper added that many of the dogs “were so badly matted” she had trouble identifying their breed.

“One dog was clearly in pain, screaming as the veterinary surgeon examined him and the screaming went right through me. It was awful to listen to,” she said.

The dogs ranged from poodles, Japanese chins, rough collies, Pekingese, chihuahuas, shih tzus and a lot of crosses between these breeds, with one RSPCA rescuer having trouble identifying the breeds due to their matted coats.

The dogs that were signed over into RSPCA care and other charities have now been happily rehomed.

Sentencing | 15-week custodial suspended for nine months; 15 days of rehabilitation; 50 hours of unpaid work; £400 each; FIVE-year ban on keeping all animals (expires December 2028).

BBC News
Western Telegraph
Wales Online

Cats, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire: Terry Bree

November 11, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Terry Bree, born 1952, of Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa CV31 2EW – brutally kicked an elderly cat who died shortly afterwards.

Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking cat days before the animal died.

In an unprovoked attack Terry Bree was caught on a video doorbell lashing out at Lenny, a 21-year-old cat who died three weeks later.

The father-of-five admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

Bree had taken his German Shepherd dog, Sasha, for an early morning walk on September 16, 2023, when the incident occurred shortly before 7am.

He was seen putting his dog onto her lead in Hastang Fields before roughly shaking her by the neck and then, as he walks off, delivering a powerful kick to a nearby cat.

Leamington Magistrates were told by prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed that the elderly cat had become unwell after the attack – making messes in the home and appearing nervous to go outside. He passed away on October 9.

She said that Bree, who had been a dog owner for 35 years, had no dislike for cats but there had been problems with felines on the road.

She said that Bree’s dog Sasha had been scratched on the nose by Lenny in an earlier incident not caught on camera: ‘The frustrations got to him and he saw red.’

Defending, Jas Thiara said that her client ‘deeply regrets his actions’ and is ‘very conscious that this has caused a public outcry.’

She told the Court that Bree had reported himself to the RSPCA after the incident.

‘He took full responsibility and felt really bad at what had happened,’ she said.

But she pointed out that there was no way of confirming what level of injury would have been caused.

Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking Lenny the cat days before the animal died. — Lenny’s owner had said that following the attack her cat “went downhill” and died

In her ruling, the Chair of the Bench Janis Cauthery, rejected the Crown’s call for Bree to be banned from keeping all animals.

She said: ‘We have considered this carefully and seen no evidence of cruelty towards your dog so our disqualification order will prevent you from owning or keeping cats for five years.’

The court heard that Bree and his partner had owned Sasha for two years after getting her from the Dog’s Trust charity.

She had previously been kept in a crate for a year.

He said his method of shaking her by the collar was how he got her to pay attention.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Lenny’s owners, £185 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Banned from owning or keeping a cat for five years (expires November 2028).

BBC News
Daily Mail

Birds, Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Lifers, Multiple Species, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Llandegla, Wrexham: Nicholas Low

July 25, 2023 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Nicholas John Low, born c. 1952, a serial animal abuser from Ty Isoe, Maes Maelor, Llandegla, Wrexham LL11 3AA – left puppies to starve to death in a dingy caravan parked in a forest; other animals kept in squalor.

Serial animal abuser and hoarder Nicholas John Low from Llandegla, Wrexham. — Photo: North Wales Police

Low, who has two previous convictions for near identical offences, was jailed and handed a second lifetime ban for leaving dogs, cats and a goose to live in squalor

The custodial sentence came after he was found guilty by trial of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act. This includes causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, cats and a goose.

Animals starved and neglected by serial animal abuser and hoarder Nicholas John Low from Llandegla, Wrexham.

Furthermore, it was said that Low failed to care for 11 dogs and puppies. He was also found to be in breach of a lifetime disqualification order imposed in May 2007.

Among the animals found at the scene were an emaciated yellow Labrador and two dead puppies. Low also had cats that “all appeared unkempt with dirty coats” with one found to have a large polypoid affecting his ear.

A preliminary post mortem on the dead puppies revealed that both animals were in “poor body condition” and had likely “starved to death.”

The vet also confirmed that a tabby cat was found to have a burst abscess under his chin as well as thick pus coming out of his right ear. The Labrador was described as “thin with a body condition score of one out of nine where one is emaciated and nine is obese, she weighed 16.1kg.”

Six puppies were all examined and were estimated to be aged between eight and 10 weeks old. It was said they were “small in stature and all of thin body condition.”

In a witness statement provided to the court, RSPCA inspector Rachael Davies described the location where Low kept the animals as a clearing in the forest.

The inspector said there was lots of rubbish and recycled plastics, tins, bike wheels, plastic bags and general waste lying around on the ground in the clearing.

She said: “I could see an extremely skinny yellow Labrador type dog and white long haired German Shepherd type dog tethered to what I would describe as some sort of trailer. The dogs had no access to any suitable shelter, there was a sodden cushion on the ground near the German Shepherd and lots of empty dirty metal bowls. I could clearly see all of the ribs and hips on the Labrador, and could easily feel her spine, her teats were enlarged.”

In a caravan, she found eight black and chocolate Labrador cross puppies who were “very small”. Insp Davies added that the pups were in a “very unsanitary” environment and she “did not see any food or water bowls inside the caravan”.

Inspector Davies spoke with Low at first and advised about getting medical attention for the animals and proper accommodation for the dogs but he was “disagreeable” and refused their help. She later returned with animal rescue officer Melanie Froude and once again asked if she would be able to take the dogs to the vets, but this was refused and she issued him with an Animal Welfare assessment warning notice.

It was soon discovered that Low had been disqualified from keeping all animals for life – and the officers reattended the address with North Wales Police.

Inspector Davies described the conditions as much the same “just wetter and colder”.

She said: “The German Shepherd was no longer tethered to the trailer with the Labrador and the puppies were roaming free in the forest clearing. Four of the puppies gathered together and huddled themselves around a lit fire bin just outside the caravan where they had been contained on my last visit.

“They were all very quiet and looked very cold and like that had lost condition since I had last seen them. The Labrador was still tethered to the same trailer and she also appeared to have lost condition looking a lot thinner. The water bowls that had been empty on my last visit now appeared to be filled with rain water.”

One of the rescued puppies is now doing well after her ordeal

In total 13 animals (plus the two deceased pups) were removed and placed in the care of the RSPCA.

Since they were seized, the 13 animals have been doing well in RSPCA with the Labrador and pups settling in well in foster homes. The animals will now be found forever homes.

Sentencing | 26-week custodial; £154 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban from keeping animals.

Daily Post
WalesOnline
Nation Cymru

Dogs, Multiple Species, Reptiles / Exotics

North Shields, Tyne and Wear: Paul Smith

May 4, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Paul Smith, born c. 1955, of Percy Court, North Shields NE29 6JG – left his two Bichon Frise dogs with severely rotting teeth and fur matted with faeces and failed to treat a Chinese water dragon’s ailments.

North Shields man Paul Smith was given a short ban on keeping animals after severely neglecting his pets

Smith pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences in relation to dogs Bobby and Molly and a reptile named Charlie kept at his home in Percy Court. The RSPCA rescued all three pets in January 2023.

Bobby, aged 7, had to have 14 of his teeth removed such was the extent of his dental disease. Eleven-year-old Molly’s coat was so badly matted that every movement tugged on her skin and she was unable to see out of her left eye.

Smith also neglected a Chinese water dragon called Charlie, who had an injury to the tip of his tail.

The court heard how RSPCA animal rescue officer Heather Wade had visited Smith’s home on January 15, 2023, to investigate a report of concern for his pets.

“There was an extremely unpleasant smell throughout the property and no flooring on either the hallway or living area floor,” she said.

“The house appeared run down, messy and very dirty with brown grime over most surfaces. In the living area, there were two dogs which Mr Smith informed me were Molly and Bobby.

“Both dogs looked as though they should have been white in colour, but had patches of brown matted fur all over their face and bodies. I was approached by Molly and could see the claws on one of her front feet were very overgrown.

“Bobby seemed extremely uncomfortable and was constantly rubbing his face on various surfaces throughout the visit.”

A vivarium housing a ten-year-old male Chinese water dragon called Charlie was also in the living area. The officer immediately noticed an abnormality with the reptile’s upper jaw/nose area and saw that part of his tail was missing. She was told by Smith that the reptile was unable to see the glass and kept hitting it.

When asked when the dogs had last been seen by a groomer or vet Smith said he could not remember and was suffering from functional memory loss.

Bobby went on to make a good recovery in the RSPCA’s care, but sadly the decision was made to put Charlie and Molly to sleep to prevent further suffering.

Molly had Cushing’s disease and had stopped eating, with tests showing a deterioration in her renal function, while Charlie also had severe mouth rot to his nose and upper and lower jaw on both sides.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Helen Bestwick who led the charity’s investigation said: “All three animals were clearly in a terrible and unacceptable state and this would have been obvious to their owner for months, yet veterinary help had not been sought.

“It’s imperative that people reach out and ask for support at an early stage, rather than letting animals suffer unnecessary neglect in circumstances like this.”

Sentencing | suspended eight-week prison sentence in court. Banned from keeping dogs and reptiles for two years (expires April 2025).

ChronicleLive
ITV News

Cats, Snaring and Trapping

Haworth, West Yorkshire: June Kershaw

April 28, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | June Kershaw, born c. 1945, of Harbour Lodge Farm, Haworth Moor, Haworth, Keighley BD22 9RQ – killed two of her neighbour’s cats using snares.

June Kershaw was fined after two pet cats died in snare traps on her moorland farm.

Kershaw was convicted under the Animal Welfare Act of using snares in an improper manner and knowing that they could have caused unnecessary suffering.

She was prosecuted by the RSPCA in relation to Bengal/Savannah cat Marley and tabby Frankie, who were killed by snaring devices in April and July 2021. Both cats belonged to her neighbour, Richard Russell, with whom she didn’t get on.

Kershaw told the court the three snares, which she said she checked every day, had been in the same positions every spring for the last 14/15 years and had only ever caught rabbits attempting to steal growing vegetables from her garden.

Kershaw’s neighbour finds his cat, Frankie, dead in a snare set on a fence line.

Marley’s body was found by Kershaw on April 26, 2021. She told the court she spotted the animal on the branch of a tree while she was hanging her washing out that afternoon and removed the snare.

In court, she said: “I glanced over thinking it was a fox, I was horrified to see it was a cat.

“I could have put it in a bin bag and put it in the bin but I never thought of that.”

Kershaw told the court she was too frightened of her neighbour to tell him or throw the animal over his fence, instead thinking he had a tracker on the cat.

Police attended Kershaw’s house on May 22, 2021, to view CCTV footage of the cat dangling from the tree.

When an RSPCA officer asked Kershaw about the incident, she replied by saying “It is only a cat”.

The second cat, Frankie, was found in a snare on July 28, 2021.

A kill pole snare on Howarth Moor, Yorkshire, in 2021. Source: National Anti-Snaring Campaign

Prosecuting, Charlotte Kenny highlighted that one of her neighbour’s cats died in a mint trap on Kershaw’s land in April 2019.

She said: “That should have put her on notice. Despite that, she continued to set the snares.”

Kershaw and her defence insisted that she did not know her neighbour owned cats, something the magistrates refused to accept.

Following the verdict, Luke Steele, Executive Director of Wild Moors, said: “We cannot continue to ignore the suffering that snares inflict on our wildlife and the risk they pose to pets which may become entangled in them.

“It’s time for landowners to take responsibility and prohibit their use, and for governments to ban snares altogether.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said the charity is “opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares – which are sadly legal to catch certain wild animals such as foxes and rabbits – and any trap which causes suffering. Snares can’t distinguish between animals and it’s thought many victims are not the intended species.”

Sentencing | ordered to pay £300 per charge, plus prosecution costs of £1,300 and £34 victim surcharge.

Telegraph & Argus
Yorkshire Post

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire: Sam Hussain

February 8, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Sam Hussain, born c. 1951, of The Tanglewoods, Bridge Close, Airmyn, Goole DN14 8SA – for the cruel mistreatment of two terminally ill German Shepherds.

Tina (pictured) and another dog called Tyson were both put to sleep to end their pain and suffering at the hands of despicable Sam Hussain from Goole, Yorkshire

Vile pensioner Sam Hussain was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years after his disgusting treatment of two German Shepherds led to them being put to sleep.

He admitted failing to get veterinary treatment for the dogs’ long-standing painful medical conditions and failing to meet the needs of one of the dogs.

RSPCA visited Hussain’s premises in January 2022 and found the poorly dogs – a female named Tina and elderly male called Tyson – living in filthy, hazardous and inadequate conditions.

Tyson (pictured and Tina had a miserable life filled with pain and suffering while in the care of Sam Hussain — Tyson (pictured) and Tina had a miserable life filled with pain and suffering while in the care of Sam Hussain

Tyson was found in a dilapidated outbuilding with no doors, filled with old machinery, tools, cars and scrap. He was tethered to a metal pillar with a chain and was curled up in a ball on a pile of rubble.

Tina had a thick matted coat and was very smelly. She was losing lots of hair but the hair on her back was matted and clumped. She was inappropriately tethered with a heavy chain and had only a 7ft circular area to walk in.

Hussain would only agree to signing over Tyson to the RSPCA initially.

Veterinary examination of Tyson uncovered an untreated and painful tumour along with other debilitating medical conditions. Very sadly it was decided to euthanise him to end his obvious suffering.

Tina was also found to have an untreated painful tumour. After Hussain finally agreed to sign her over to the RSPCA she was also put to sleep on humane grounds.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Claire Mitchell said: “It was this individual’s legal responsibility to care for his dogs and he failed to do this. There was no excuse for not providing those two poor dogs with their basic needs and failing to seek veterinary care for them when it was abundantly clear that they so desperately needed it.

“These were tragic cases and simply shouldn’t have happened. The RSPCA urges anyone struggling to take care of their pet to ask for help, rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer.”

Inspector Mitchell added: “In my opinion both dogs were living in bare, desolate conditions which were wholly inappropriate for them, especially taking into consideration their age.”

Sentencing | 24 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months; ordered to pay £800 in costs (£400 for each dog) and £128 victim surcharge. A 10-year ban on keeping animals.

Yorkshire Post

Dogs, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers

Methil, Fife: Mary Walton and George Todd

January 19, 2023 misanthropic 5 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Mary Walton, born c. 1960, and partner George Todd, born c. 1951, of Byron Street, Methil, Leven KY8 3JG – starved and neglected their pet dogs.

Animal abusers: George Todd and Mary Walton from Methil, Fife, Scotland. Image source: The Courier — Unremorseful serial animal abusers George Todd and Mary Walton are now banned for life from keeping them. Image source: The Courier

Mary Walton and George Todd, who had received a fiscal warning for animal neglect in 2017, received a lifetime ban on keeping animals after Rottweilers Beau, aged 4, and Nala, 2, were found starving and neglected.

Beau's skeleton was visible through his fur — Beau’s skeleton was visible through his fur

Beau was described as emaciated and scored just one out of nine for body condition. Nala was little better, scoring just two out of nine in the assessment.

Procurator fiscal depute Catherine Stevenson told the court two Scottish SPCA inspectors went to the couple’s home on June 28, 2022, after receiving a report of concern about the welfare of dogs at the property.

The court heard the dogs were in the kitchen and Walton needed her partner to help get them out, describing the pets as “wild”.

The fiscal depute said: “When the dogs were allowed out of the kitchen, they threw themselves into the room and began rummaging around and started licking anything that resembled a bowl.”

The dogs were removed and taken to a vet in Livingston, West Lothian.

The fiscal depute continued: “Beau was found to be extremely underweight, scoring 1/9 for body condition, with visible bones – including ribs and pelvis – and muscle loss”.

The court heard Nala scored a 2/9 for body condition.

The vet found the dogs’ ribs and pelvic bones were prominent, they ate “greedily” when offered food, had head wounds consistent with fighting and Beau had sores on the pelvis due to lying on hard surfaces.

By September 2022 the dogs were reported to be “doing well” and had gained 22% of body weight in just over nine weeks.

The cruel couple, who represented themselves in court, pleaded guilty to causing Beau and Nala unnecessary suffering by failing to provide them with adequate nutrition.

They admitted failing to seek veterinary treatment for weight and muscle loss.

They admitted a third charge of failing to meet the needs of the animals to the extent required by good practice, on June 28.

Sheriff Maryam Labaki described it as a “harrowing case” in which two animals “were starved and neglected”.

The sheriff said Walton had given an explanation of “not coping” but Todd had shown “no remorse”.

She added: “Your attitude is quite frankly despicable in the face of suffering you have caused.

“The court will, in relation to both accused, impose lifetime disqualification from owning or keeping any animal”.

Scottish SPCA inspector, Robyn Gray, said, “We’re pleased that Mary Walton and George Todd received a lifetime ban on owning or keeping animals.

“The couple previously received a fiscal warning in 2017 and we are glad that this outcome will prevent further harm to animals in their care.

“Both dogs were caused unnecessary suffering which could have been prevented.”

Sentencing | lifetime ban on keeping animals.

The Courier

Dogs

Wallsend, North Tyneside: Margery and Thomas Taylor

December 20, 2022 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2022) | Margery Taylor, born c. 1948, and son Thomas Taylor, born c. 1976, both of North View, Wallsend NE28 7NF – neglected an elderly dog found in a sleeping bag soaked with blood and urine.

Yorkie Hughie was found with a serious skin condition which had been ignored by his heartless owners.

The pair failed to get help for 12-year-old Yorkshire terrier Hughie, who became stuck to a sodden sleeping bag as his body was completely covered in scabs.

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws said Hughie stunk of rotting flesh and yeast when she rescued him from the family’s “filthy” home.

“There was rotten food in open containers all over the property and the dirt stuck to my shoes when I was walking,” she said of her visit on February 18, 2022.

“Hughie was on a sleeping bag on the sofa and the bag was wet underneath him with a combination of blood and urine. It appeared he had been sitting there for some time as bits of skin were stuck to the sleeping bag where he lay.”

Inspector Keogh-Laws said Hughie was almost bald on some parts of his body and large chunks of his skin were peeling off.

Margery Taylor knew her dog had been unwell and even took him to the vets in September 2021, where he was prescribed a second bottle of anti-inflammatory tablets. Both bottles were found by the inspector to still be “at least half” full.

The Taylors both pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. They admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by not providing vet care for his severe skin condition. They also admitted to failing to meet the dog’s needs by failing to provide him with a suitable environment.

Hughie is recovering from his ordeal, though sadly the scars on his body will be permanent due to the severity of his neglect.

The vet who treated Hughie’s skin condition said: “His quality of life has improved dramatically and the dog is now enjoying life free from pain and restricted mobility. The desire to run and play is a lovely illustration of this.”

After spending time at RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre, Hughie is now being looked after by foster carers and will be found a permanent home soon.

Sentencing | a total of £234 each in fine and surcharge. Costs of £2,000 from central funds were awarded to the RSPCA. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires December 2027).

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UK Animal Cruelty Files