Tag Archives: untreated illness or injury

Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria: Paul Rose

May 19, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | owl sanctuary owner Paul Allen Rose, born 5 January 1953, of Foxfield Road, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 3SJ – neglected the needs of birds in the care of his rescue and kept them in poor conditions.

Prosecution of Cumbrian owl sanctuary owner Paul Rose who neglected the needs of the birds in his care.

Paul Rose MBE, founder of The Owl Sanctuary, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure animal welfare, contrary to Section 4 and Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Prosecutor Joel Wootton told the court that officers from Cumbria Police and the RSPCA conducted inspections at two of the charity’s aviaries on March 8, 2022.

Twenty-six owls were seized from a lockup on Brady’s Yard after they were found to have been crammed into cramped, cluttered cages in an aviary that had no windows.

The owls did not have enough space to open their wings.

A further five owls were seized from the defendant’s property on Foxfield Road, Walney.

Prosecution of Cumbrian owl sanctuary owner Paul Rose who neglected the needs of the birds in his care. Pictured is Ludo who was euthanised after suffering neurological damage. — Pictured is Ludo who was euthanised after suffering neurological damage.

Two of these owls were euthanised within 48 hours due to having serious neurological problems and being unable to stand properly.

One barn owl was found to have suffered a fractured wing.

Another owl was later put to sleep whilst in the care of the RSPCA.

An RSPCA inspector commented that the owls were all ‘suffering to some degree’, the court heard.

Rose also admitted he had displayed an ‘amber listed’ tawny owl named Ludo for commercial purposes without an Article 10 certificate.

The court heard that this was the same owl that was neurologically damaged.

The court was told Rose applied for a exhibition licence to show all of his owls at local schools and other events in 2020, which was later revoked.

He was sentenced on the basis that he cared for every one of his birds, that he did not commit the offences out of any malice, and that he did so as a result of overwhelming demand for his services, his poor health and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mitigation, Joseph Hart said his client had not been ‘deliberately cruel’.

Mr Hart added: “It is quite clear this defendant was regularly consulting vets about the birds in his care.

“He is besotted with his animals and has devoted himself to them.

“He consulted vets about the two owls that were ultimately destroyed two years before the offending. Having taken them to the vets, they were released back to him.

“He began with the best of intentions but by the time we get to March 8, he had a very large amount of owls in wholly unsatisfactory conditions and he has not sought medical advice.

“This is not a deliberate attempt to cause suffering, but it is arguably a prolonged period of neglect.

“There is no suggestion these animals were being used for commercial gain. He genuinely cared for the animals, perhaps too much as he refused to hand them over.”

The court heard Rose, who served as an RAF reservist for many years and who was awarded an MBE in 2002 for services to the defence industry, was a man of previous good character, save for a previous caution in 2011 for failing to apply for an Article 10 certificate.

Sentencing Rose, Recorder Katie Jones said: “These birds were kept in woefully inadequate conditions in dark, cold and dusty spaces. The biggest enclosure you had was 109cm x 75cm x 69cm which was significantly smaller dimensions than the recommended dimensions.

“You simply failed to discharge your duty to consider their welfare.

“It was not your intention to cause the birds any harm, but you had plenty of warning about what was expected of you.

“You could have asked for help and you should have familiarised yourself with what suitable conditions these animals need.”

Sentencing | 20-week prison sentence suspended for two years; one-month curfew. Disqualified from owning or keeping all birds for five years to give him ‘time to engage in educational work’. The order also prohibits Rose from controlling or influencing the way in which birds are kept.

The Mail

In October 2022 it was reported that the Owl Sanctuary is to be investigated by the Charities Commission after concerns were raised about how a £225,000 legacy and other funds were spent.

BBC News undertook its own investigation into the charity’s affairs and published a detailed report here.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Equine Abuse, foxes, horses and ponies, hunting with dogs, hunts, Multiple Species, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: Greg Baker

May 18, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | huntsman Gregory Edward Baker, born 31 October 1980, of Troedythiw, Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo SA19 7PT – for multiple counts of animal cruelty relating to five equines and one foxhound.

RSPCA prosecution of Carmarthenshire huntsman Greg Baker formerly of the Llandeilo Farmers Fox Hunt for cruelty to five horses and a fox hound

Llanelli Magistrates Court found Greg Baker guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to six animals due to prolonged neglect.

Baker, a huntsman most recently with the now defunct Llandeilo Farmers Hunt, failed to investigate or address the poor bodily conditions of the equines, who were given a body condition score of between 0 and 0.5 out of 5. All were suffering from lice infestations and rain scald – a painful condition caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.

One horse – a little Shetland pony – weighed just 60kg when rescued and rapidly gained 20kg once in the care of the RSPCA.

He also failed to provide veterinary care for a foxhound suffering from paraphimosis with associated ulceration and fracture. The dog was in such pain he had to be given methadone.

The court heard that the neglect was so severe that one horse had to be euthanised.

Baker was found guilty of failing to address the equines’ lameness, skin diseases, and malnutrition, as well as neglecting to provide a suitable environment and diet for the animals.

Baker, who was represented by Matthew Paul – a fellow foxhunter and master of the Emlyn Begles, originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Despite the seriousness of the offences, magistrates decided not to disqualify Baker from keeping animals. This decision was influenced by an RSPCA visit in July 2023, which noted improvements in the conditions of the horses. The court also considered Baker’s previous good record in animal keeping, the low risk of reoffending as assessed by probation services, and the disproportionate impact a disqualification would have on his dependants.

Chairman of the bench, Mrs Alison Elizabeth Dorothy Evans, stated that the decision to suspend the sentence was due to the prospect of Baker’s rehabilitation and his role as the primary carer for his dependent children and wife, Gemma Baker.

The case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the legal responsibilities of pet owners to ensure their animals’ health and well-being.

Sentencing | 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months; 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work; £2,719.45 costs and £154 victim surcharge. No ban.

Pembrokeshire Herald
Hunt Saboteurs Association

Animal Abandonment, animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Millom, Cumbria: Reece Robertson

May 17, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Reece Robertson, born 12 November 1997, of 49 Devonshire Road, Millom LA18 4JH* – left multiple dogs in severe pain with untreated animal fighting injuries, starved them and kept them in appalling conditions.

RSPCA prosecution of wildlife criminal Reece Robertson from Millom, Cumbria, who left his dogs with untreated fighting injuries, starved and neglected them.

Ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Robertson was investigated by the RSPCA in relation to suspected badger baiting, with the charity’s officers finding eight dogs at his home and a nearby allotment in Lincoln Street, Millom. , Many of the dogs had substantial scarring and untreated wounds, consistent with being forced to fight with wild animals.

Robertson pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

In October 2023, raids were carried out by RSPCA inspectors and officers from Cumbria Police as part of an investigation codenamed Operation Spike.

The warrants were issued under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Muttit, of the charity’s SOU (Special Operations Unit), said in a statement presented to the court that three adult dogs and a puppy were being kept in very poor conditions at kennels in Robertson’s back garden.

Chief Inspector Muttit said: “Each kennel had a large build-up of faeces in it. They were small and the run areas had large amounts of faeces built up inside, while the sleeping areas for each were extremely basic and looked inadequate in terms of shelter or bedding.”

Three dogs, a bull lurcher called Bam, a female bull lurcher called Bella, a Patterdale terrier called Punch and a lurcher puppy, were found at the defendant’s property.

At the allotment, RSPCA officers found five more dogs in five separate kennels, including a female bull lurcher named Jess who had lost part of her nose and had scars all over her face.

There was also a Patterdale terrier called Tilly, a female lurcher called Thorn and two male lurchers named Mash and Bracken, both of whom were also suffering with facial cuts and scars.

An RSPCA SOU Inspector stated: “The conditions in these kennels were extremely poor. Tilly and Mash had no water in their kennels and all the dogs had very dirty kennels with lots of fresh and mouldy faeces inside them.”

Robertson indicated he had not attended the allotment for two to three days and there were no arrangements made for anyone to attend to the dogs.

All the eight adult dogs were seized and taken into the care of the RSPCA. A vet who examined all the dogs found several were underweight while others had untreated facial wounds.

Tilly was very thin and scored one out of five on a body condition score. Thorn had a broken tooth and a wound on her front leg which extended into her muscle. Mash’s left eye and chin were inflamed and swollen, while Bracken had a wound to his mouth and to one of his foot pads. Jess was suffering from fur loss and her nasal septum was missing.

Bella had an old scar on her head and her teats were enlarged. There were scabs on Bam’s nose and he had a recent cut to his inner ear. Punch, the second Patterdale, was suffering with crusty skin and there was scabbing on his chin, while he also had a fresh wound to his ear.

Robertson said that none of the dogs were under a vet and he claimed Jess had got her nose stuck in the wire fence of her kennel and part of her nose “ripped off” after he tried to pull her clear.

The vet concluded that Robertson failed to provide a suitable living environment for Tilly, Thorn, Mash, Braken and Jess, while he also failed to provide a suitable diet for Tilly. The defendant also failed to provide for the needs of Bella, Punch and Bam, stated the vet.

In mitigation, the court heard that Robertson had learning difficulties and was “regarded as a soft touch for animals in the area” with people giving him dogs they couldn’t care for. But it proved too much for him both financially and intellectually and he had tried to administer “self-treatment”.

After being treated for their injuries and ailments, all the dogs have made a good recovery in RSPCA care and will now be rehomed. The defendant later agreed to rehome the lurcher puppy.

In December 2022 a local farmer alleged that Robertson and accomplice Kian Rowe set their dogs on a helpless sheep

Reece Robertson's usual alleged partner in wildlife crime Kian Rowe 0not yet charged) — Kian Rowe also has an interest in hunting with dogs

Speaking after the case, Chief Inspector Muttit said: “We discovered these dogs in a pretty bleak environment. Those at the allotment were being kept in really poor conditions and the defendant had left them unattended for three days in their own mess.

“A number of them were suffering with injuries, including one who had lost part of her nose. It was important that we investigated the welfare of these dogs and removed them to a place of safety.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work; costs of £500. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Times & Star

*alternative address for Reece Robertson: Cook Road, Millom LA18 4JH.

Cats, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Southport, Merseyside: Matthew Daly

May 15, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

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.

RSPCA prosecution of Matthew Daly of Southport, Merseyside, who left his cat in agony with unexplained multiple fractures in his paw.

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).

Liverpool Echo
Companion Life

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species

Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands: Stephanie Sinclaire

May 15, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Stephanie Sinclaire, born c. 1956, of Stour Hill, Brierley Hill DY5 – kept 13 sick and neglected pets inside her filthy home.

RSPCA prosecution of animal hoarder Stephanie Sinclaire from Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands, who kept eight cats and five dogs in foul conditions and failed to feed them properly.

Animal hoarder Sinclaire kept eight cats and five dogs in a foul environment, surrounded by a build-up of faeces and urine. One of the dogs was in such poor condition that he had to be put down.

There was no clean water source available and no comfortable bedding for resting.

Some of the animals were found in small crates with no litter trays or heavily soiled litter trays and all had urine and faecal soiling to their coats.

The dogs were found to be suffering with a variety of health conditions including fleas, skin lesions, dental disease and eye discharge.

Four of the five dogs and all eight of the cats were underweight because of a lack of food.

The vet who examined the animals said they would have been suffering unnecessarily for weeks due to poor body condition and the associated feelings of weakness and hunger.

Two dogs, Sykes and Ozzy, had lesions on their skin due to pressure from inappropriate housing and prolonged contact with urine and faeces causing scalding to the skin.

The vet said Ozzy would have suffered unnecessarily for a number of weeks due to pain associated with severe spondylosis – a painful condition of the spine resulting from the degeneration of the intervertebral discs – affecting multiple regions of his spine.

As a result of these spinal issues he developed painful urine scald and pressure sores affecting his limbs.

In their report, the vet said: “This unnecessary suffering could have been avoided by seeking veterinary treatment, including pain relief and by providing an appropriate environment that would have prevented Ozzy from lying in his own urine and faeces.”

Sadly Ozzy had to be put to sleep by vets because of the severity of his condition.

The other animals, who have been in RSPCA care since their rescue, can now be found new homes after Sinclaire was also deprived of ownership when she was sentenced.

Sinclaire admitted four animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need.

“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.”

Sentencing | 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months; 15 days of rehabilitation; £400 costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

Express & Star
BirminghamLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Serial Animal Abusers

Batley, West Yorkshire: Michelle and Ethan Farrar

May 4, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

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.

RSPCA prosecution of mother and son Michelle Farrar and Ethan Farrar from Batley, West Yorkshire - for starvation and neglect of a dog in their care. — 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”.

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.

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).

BBC News
ITV News
YorkshireLive

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

Dogs

Colne, Lancashire: Amanda Hawkins

May 2, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | Amanda Hawkins, born 3 April 1974, of Keighley Avenue, Colne BB8 9EP – failed to get veterinary treatment for her dog’s chronic ear infection and skin condition.

RSPCA prosecution of Amanda Hawkins from Colne, Lancashire, who left her pet dog to suffer with a severe ear infection and skin condition.

Hawkins admitted one animal welfare offence in relation to nine-year-old Labrador, Robin, whom she had left to suffer for at least two months.. The RSPCA had provided Hawkins with a voucher for veterinary treatment but she claimed she had mislaid it.

Sadly, Robin’s condition had deteriorated to such an extent that a vet decided he should be put to sleep on welfare grounds.

In written evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Vicki Brooks, who attended Hawkins’ home in Keighley Avenue, Colne, said: “I was immediately aware of the unpleasant smell that I associate with dogs that have skin issues. I advised her that I was there to check that she had taken her dog for veterinary treatment in relation to a number of health issues.

“Robin was in lean body condition and had extensive fur loss and a skin condition affecting most of his body. I could see patches where he had scratched or rubbed himself to the point of bleeding. His ears were swollen and deformed, and he was shaking his head regularly which was a sign that he most likely had an ear infection.

“Amanda Hawkins told me that she had not taken Robin to the vet because she could not afford it. I reminded her that a previous colleague had issued her with an assistance voucher to contribute towards her veterinary costs and she told me she had lost the voucher.”

Hawkins was told Robin required urgent treatment and as she had not followed previous advice, animal welfare officers may have been committed.

She agreed for the officer to take him and he was seen at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital later that day.

In written evidence, the vet who saw him said: “Robin had signs of chronic ear problems. Both the left and right ear canal were markedly thickened, meaning it was not possible to examine them while he was conscious.

“There was a diffuse reddening of the skin over much of the dog’s body with thinning hair, especially over the back. The presence of live fleas was also noted.

“Examination under a general anaesthetic showed that the right ear canal was narrowed so far as being completely closed over. The extent of scarring, thickening and signs of infection in both ears are likely to be associated with significant pain and discomfort for this dog. Aural haematomas, as suspected in this case, often arise from head shaking as a result of ongoing ear irritation/infection.

“Ear disease with this appearance takes some time to develop. In the early stages, a simple ear infection may not cause significant suffering, but the level of scarring seen here is likely to have caused significant suffering for at least two months, likely significantly longer.”

In interview, Hawkins said that Robin had started nibbling himself and that he was treated regularly for fleas and bathed in flea shampoo. She said she had switched his food to wheat-free but that got too expensive and nothing had worked.

RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Susie Micallef, who was also involved in the investigation, said: “This was a particularly sad case to deal with. Robin’s suffering could have been avoided had he received early veterinary intervention and his owner acted on the help and support that had been given to her.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work; £114 victim surcharge. Five-year ban (expires May 2029).

Lancashire Telegraph

Dogs, Hoarders

Walsall, West Midlands: Kassie Benton

April 30, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Kasandra Benton, born September 1986, of Talke Road, Walsall WS5 4PH – neglected her injured and ailing dogs’ needs.

RSPCA prosecution of Walsall woman Kassie Benton who failed to treat her dogs' injuries

Pet collector Benton left two of her dogs to suffer without seeking vet treatment. They were an Akita named Delta, who was found with injuries from fighting another dog, and a chihuahua called Eddie, who had a huge ulcerated mass on his groin and had to be put to sleep.

The dogs were rescued from Benton’s home after concerns for their welfare were raised with the RSPCA.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Graeme Brookes, described what he saw when he entered Benton’s home.

He said: “As I walked in, the smell was strong. I saw multiple fresh stains of faeces in the living room. There was lots of domestic rubbish on the floor.

“Eddie had a very large growth on the side of his body that due to his size impacted his walk, on top of the growth was a large open wound.

“I asked to see Delta, who was kept locked in the kitchen. There was a large amount of faeces and urine in the kitchen. I asked why Delta was in the kitchen, and was told she’d been kept in there since the fight.

“Delta was friendly, however, I could see she couldn’t place her paw on the floor, hobbling significantly also her hair was matted on the back. I then noticed puncture marks on both her legs and the one she couldn’t put down was significantly swollen.”

Both dogs were taken to a vet who examined them and concluded both were suffering.

In his report, he said: “The owner was aware that Eddie had a swelling on his side and that it ulcerated a couple of months earlier. This mass was painful due to the damage to the skin over the mass. The lack of treatment and the inaction that in my opinion has led to unnecessary suffering.

“With Delta, once this fight had occurred a reasonable owner would immediately seek veterinary care especially with the number of injuries she sustained.

“She may have been walking initially but as the inflammation and infection worsened the swelling would have become more obvious and she would have become more lame and more painful.

“Many of the puncture wounds are often like the tip of the iceberg for dog bite injuries as the grip of the dog is maintained and the tear and rip the muscle and tissues below.”

Eddie had to be put to sleep because of the severity of his condition.
Delta was placed in RSPCA care and can now be rehomed after the court granted a deprivation order.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Graeme Brookes added: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment when they need it.

“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.”

Sentencing | 26-week suspended prison sentence; 15 hours of “rehabilitation”; £600 in costs plus a £187 surcharge. 20-year ban on keeping dogs.

BirminghamLive
Express & Star
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Dogs

Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne: Donna Marie Morrison

April 27, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Donna Marie Morrison, born November 1981, of 36 Durham Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6XP – turned a blind eye to her elderly dog’s suffering.

RSPCA prosecution of Donna Marie Morrison from Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne who ignored her elderly dog's deteriorating health.

Morrison repeatedly ignored RSPCA advice to take elderly Staffy Dozer to a vet and instead left him to suffer with an animal mass and tumours across his body. The animal charity had even appointments on her behalf but she failed to attend.

RSPCA Inspector Helen Nedley said: “My colleague, Inspector Suzanne Edgar found that Dozer had a soft lump the size of a golf ball around his tail area.

“He also had a small lump the size of the end of a Biro pen on his front right leg.

“She strongly advised Donna Morrison to take Dozer to the vets for a check up on these lumps within the next two weeks.”

The tumours had spread through the canine’s body resulting in his thin body condition. Sadly vets had no choice but to put him down to prevent further suffering.

The court heard that the RSPCA first visited Morrison’s home in September 2022, after receiving reports of concern from the public.

Morrison was advised by the officer to take the dog to the vet. While she had apparently agreed to this, she failed to follow up.

By May 2023 Dozer’s condition had deteriorated significantly and he was signed over to the RSPCA and taken to a vet.

An ultrasound found two very large, hard masses inside Dozer’s abdomen pressing against his bladder, which had possibly spread from the original tumour on his backside.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “The vet stated that given that Dozer’s weight loss was likely to have been somewhat chronic in nature, and that the anal mass had been present for some time, suffering could have been avoided if the dog had been taken to a vet sooner. It was likely Dozer had suffered for several weeks.

“He added that given the significant weight loss and the presence of the tumour, the needs of the Staffy were not being met.”

RSPCA Inspector Helen Nedley added: “It was Morrison’s legal responsibility to properly care for Dozer and she failed to do this. There was no excuse for failing to seek veterinary care for him when it was abundantly clear he so desperately needed it.

“This was an awful case and Dozer’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.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order with 25 days of “rehabilitation” and 100 hours of unpaid work. £114 victim surcharge and £1,170 in costs. 10-year ban.

Northern Echo
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