Monthly Archives: May 2014

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

Runcorn, Cheshire: Louise Murray

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CONVICTED (2014) | Louise Murray, born c. 1973, of 13 Waterford Way, Runcorn WA7 6DY – for the ‘harrowing and prolonged neglect’ of a pony poisoned by ragwort.

Angelica

Louise Murray was banned for life from keeping animals after her emaciated pony, Anjelica, was not treated for ragwort poisoning and had to be put to sleep.

Murray was prosecuted after RSPCA officers discovered the grey mare unable to stand in a stable on Manley Road in Frodsham.

Chester Magistrates court heard Murray had kept the animal in a field containing the poisonous and deadly weed ragwort.

She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animal between August 8 and August 29, 2013.

Angelica

The RSPCA said she had failed to provide proper care and seeking medical attention.

Animal welfare staff found Anjelica prone on her side in a stable after they received a phone call saying a horse had collapsed.

Her ribs and hip bones were showing.

She was weak and ‘barely able to lift her head’, the RSPCA added, and did not have the strength to reach two large buckets of water nearby.

A vet was called and put Anjelica to sleep to end her suffering.

The area where poisoned pony Anjelica lay for days

An examination of her body revealed soiling and fraying and staining of her right side, indicating she had been lying there for a long time.

A post-mortem revealed she had suffered prolonged sickness due to ragwort toxicity.

The plant, also known as ‘yellow peril’ is a poisonous weed that causes irreversible damage to horses’ livers and results in an ‘extremely painful death’.

Allegations that Murray may be a serial animal abuser
Allegations on Facebook that Murray may be a serial animal abuser

Cara Challinor, RSPCA inspector, said: “This is by far one of the most harrowing cases of prolonged neglect I have witnessed during my time as an inspector.

“The fact the pony was lying next to two buckets of fresh water but was too weak to even reach them is just heartbreaking.

“I feel it is important that this case is highlighted so that people can understand the dangers of allowing a horse or pony to graze in a field of ragwort.

“The symptoms can take a long time come through but can cause terrible conditions.

“Sadly in this case it was made even worse because the defendant failed to seek veterinary help for Anjelica when she fell ill.”

Sentencing: 12-month community order; £560 prosecution costs. Banned for life from keeping animals.

Liverpool Echo

Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Bolton, Greater Manchester: David Lowe

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CONVICTED (2014) | David Lowe, born c. 1980, of Edward Street, Farnworth, Bolton – starved a 15-year-old lurcher so badly she had to be put down

Animal abuser: David Lowe from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: Facebook

Lowe neglected 15-year-old Fly until the animal was less than half her normal body weight. When the tan-coloured lurcher was rescued she was barely breathing and had to be put down.

Lurcher Fly was euthanised after being starved and neglected by David Lowe from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.
Lurcher Fly was euthanised after being starved and neglected by David Lowe from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.
Fly was so poorly he had to be put to sleep to end his suffering

Vet Angus McKenzie said in a court statement he felt Fly ‘was the most severely emaciated dog dead or alive that he had ever seen in the 30 years he had been in practice.’

The dog was 12-15% dehydrated and weighed just 8.1kg, which was less than half her ideal body weight. She had discharge coming from a sinus just below her eye, an abscess in her mouth, overgrown nails and had severe and advanced dental disease.

Animal abuser: David Lowe from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.

The court hear that Fly could have been “easily treated” if help had been sought earlier, but she was put down after being found in a “severely emaciated condition”.

Lowe avoided jail because he had apparently shown “remorse” for his actions and also had mental health problems.

Sentence: 12-week suspended prison sentence, total of £1,080 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.

Bolton News
BBC News

In June 2014 Lowe appeared in court again charged with criminal damage. Lowe pleaded guilty to damaging a woman’s window on 17 May 2014. He was given a conditional discharge and restraining order.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Thornton Heath, South London: Tony and Tracey Ford

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CONVICTED (2014) | backyard breeders Tony John Ford, born 10/07/1978, and wife Tracey Emily Ford, born 12/04/1983, previously of Margate and as of May 2020 of Carew Road, Thornton Heath CR7 7RE – dumped three mange-riddled puppies in the street

Dog abusers Tony Ford and Tracey Ford from Thornton Heath, South London
Despite abandoning three poorly pups in a Margate street, Tony and Tracey Ford were only banned from keeping animals for five years

The Fords’ neglect of the three husky/Staffy cross puppies and their mother had gone on for so long that all four dogs were virtually bald and covered in scabby sores. The vile pair then dumped the puppies in the street where they were discovered by a member of the public.

Thanet Council dog warden John Coomes collected the puppies and took them to a vet, before tracking down their mother – a two-year-old Staffy called Bonnie – at the Fords’ then address in Arnold Street, Margate.

Neglected puppies riddled with mange and infected eyes
The RSPCA dubbed the case one of “appalling” and prolonged neglect”.

All of the dogs were suffering from very severe mange, which had led to extensive fur loss.

The six month-old puppies, one female and two male, were also suffering from heat exposure from being left on the street, as well as having extremely infected eyes.

RSPCA inspector Ed Halligan said: “This was an appalling case of prolonged neglect.

“These poor dogs were in a terrible state – they were virtually bald and covered in scabby sores all over their heads.

“For them to have got this bad they must have been just left without treatment for a long time.

“Thank goodness for John Coomes and the member of the public who found the puppies on the street. Without them these animals would have died there is no doubt.”

Neglected puppies as they were recovering from their ordeal
The pups had to be hand-nursed through the night after suffering bad sunburn

Mr Coomes said: “It broke my heart to see how poorly these little dogs were. The little ones could barely open their eyes they were so red and infected.”

He said it had been touch and go for a while, with the dogs having to be hand-nursed through the night with wet towels to ease the pain from the sunburn after being abandoned on the street.

He added: “But now the dogs are well and ready for rehoming which is lovely – a real happy ending.”

The four dogs were taken into care and have all made a good recovery.

The Fords both admitted charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs and failing to get the proper veterinary treatment needed.

Sentencing: fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2019).

KentOnline

Dogs

Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham: Ann-Marie Nash

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CONVICTED (2014) | Ann Marie Nash, born 02/11/1975, previously of Chester Road, Erdington, Birmingham but more recently (2020) of Gladstone Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3EY- for cruelty to an emaciated bulldog found dying in a gutter

Dog killer: veterinary nurse Ann Marie Nash previously of Birmingham and now Stockton-on-Tees
Evil Ann Marie Nash

Qualified veterinary nurse Nash admitted locking the dog, named Martha, out of her house.

Martha was found lying near a gutter in Erdington in July 2013 and was rushed to a vet by a member of the public.

Martha was gravely ill when discovered abandoned by Ann-Marie Nash and was sadly put to sleep on humane grounds
Martha was gravely ill when discovered abandoned by Ann-Marie Nash and was sadly put to sleep on humane grounds

An examination marked her as 1.5 out of 5 on the body mass index chart and found a football-sized blockage of bones in the abdomen and toe nails that were growing into the tissue of her paws.

Nothing could be done to save the stricken dog and Birmingham City Council launched an investigation into how the bulldog got into such an appalling state.

The court was told that Nash was traced because Martha had been micro chipped; Nash had adopted the dog the year before from a charity specialising in rehoming British Bulldogs.

Admitting an animal cruelty charge, Nash told Birmingham Magistrates that she had lost her job and had been forced to rely on food bank handouts to feed herself; she said she was also suffering from depression.

Nash, who had previously fostered abandoned animals, said she was “extremely remorseful” for what she had done.

Martha was gravely ill when discovered abandoned by Ann-Marie Nash and was sadly put to sleep on humane grounds

A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council, said: “This sad case highlights how important it is for people to look after their pets and that they owe them a duty of care.

“While many pet owners love their animals and take good care of them, ensuring they are well fed and maintained, there are some who do not understand their responsibility, and unfortunately our dog wardens are seeing more of these kinds of cases.

“This is why it’s so important to highlight what can happen to the owner, as well as their pet, if they are neglected or disowned, and the judge was very clear that Ms Nash will go to prison if she breaks the terms of her sentence.”

Sentence: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year; 100 hours’ community service, 12-month supervision order, £200 court costs, £80 victim surcharge. Five-year ban (expired 2019).

BirminghamLive

Animal Torture, Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

King’s Lynn, Norfolk: Barry Garside-Neville

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CONVICTED (2014) | Barry John Garside-Neville, born 12 July 1984, most recently of Hall Farm Road, Gayton, King’s Lynn PE32 1RB – kicked and burned a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with cigarettes

In May 2014 Barry Garside-Neville, who has a string of previous criminal convictions for shop lifting and drug possession, was found guilty of subjecting a Staffy named Ruby to physical trauma.

The court heard how Garside-Neville picked up the dog and threw her against a wall “so the dog dropped to the floor”.

He then kicked the animal and also blew into her nose, which could have potentially suffocated her.

Police seized Ruby on 21June 2013.

In an interview with the RSPCA Garside-Neville said he had “given the dog a little tap on the arse after she pissed on the sofa“.

Animal abuser: Barry Garside Neville from King's Lynn, Norfolk

When Ruby was examined, she was also found to have a “severe skin condition” which caused alopecia and would have left the animal “very itchy”. They also found a recent cigarette burn on Ruby’s muzzle and a similar lesion on her shoulder.

Sentencing | jailed for four months. Banned from owning animals for life.

BBC News
St Albans Review