CONVICTED (2014) | Stuart Baker, born c. 1985, of Stopford Street, Ince, Wigan WN2 2AU – kept several dogs and exotic birds in disgusting conditions without food or water
Nightclub bouncer Stuart Baker pleaded guilty jointly with his father, Norman Baker, of causing unnecessary suffering to his pets, which included a litter of nine rottweiler/lab cross puppies, by failing to provide them with a suitable environment to live in.
He also admitted failing in a duty of personal responsibility to ensure animal welfare with the constant supply of fresh drinking water.
An arrest warrant was issued for Norman Baker who failed to turn up at court. The outcome of the case against him is unknown.
Tony Stock, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said that inspectors had been called to the pair’s home in Warrington Road, Higher Ince, to assist police after reports that two dogs had been found roaming the neighbourhood.
When RSPCA inspector Louise Showering got no answer at the Bakers’ home she looked through the front window and was confronted with an appalling scene of neglect.
The entire living room floor, a dog crate and the sofa and chairs were covered in dog faeces and rubbish, and could be smelt from the outside.
Inspector Showering and colleagues had to wear special protective clothing and face masks to protect their own health when they later legally entered the property. In fact, the acrid smell from dog urine was so strong that they were forced to take it in turns alternately checking the rooms, to avoid being overcome by the fumes.
No food or water was available for the animals, only empty bowls.
All downstairs rooms in the house were in a similar disgraceful state, with one containing a bird cage with a dead cockatiel lying in its own faeces.
The two parent dogs were so aggressive that they had to be sedated before they could be removed by the RSPCA,
The three-month-old puppies were found to be worm-infested and were very frightened of human contact because they hadn’t been socialised.
When offered food and water they ate and drank ravenously and it was a vet’s opinion that they hadn’t eaten or drunk for at least 48 hours.
He also told the court that continuous breathing of the contaminated air would cause harm to the animals’ health.
The vet believed that the cockatiel had died within 24 hours of being found and he believed that “sporadic nutrition” would have been a significant factor.
Baker said problems occurred because he had been forced to work away from home and leave his father to look after their pets.
He said: “The problems have come from a series of unfortunate events.
“I was in a relationship with a violent girl who left me trapped in a spiral of debt.”
Although Baker’s male rottweiler/labrador cross dog had to be put down after attacking officials, the RSPCA successfully re-homed the rottweiler bitch and her nine puppies, plus a green parrot.
Sentencing: three-month suspended prison sentence; £2,140 costs. Banned from keeping any animals for life.
Source: Wigan Today (article removed)
