CONVICTED (2016) | Vicky Hollinshead, born c. 1983, and Neil Hough, born c. 1978, of The Uplands, Great Haywood, Stafford ST18 0SH – failed to ensure the welfare of an underweight greyhound found covered in lesions and cigarette burns.

The case against the couple was brought by the RSPCA who visited them three times in late 2015 when they were living in Stafford Road, Cannock.

On the first visit the greyhound, named Red and thought to be aged between eight and 10, was said to be in normal condition although there was concern about some loss of fur. Hollinshead told the inspector he had had an allergic reaction to a change in his diet and by the next visit the fur had started to grow back but Inspector Mark Crutchley advised he be taken to a vet if it persisted.

A social worker visited the defendants and expressed concerns about the greyhound and about a man who was staying at the house. There were suggestions the man had mistreated Red and had been seen to hit him and throw him across the room. He was told the man had been seen to stub a cigarette out on the dog.

Prosecutor Roger Price said: “This raised concerns. The next day he attended with a police officer and spoke to them. He noticed Red was very thin and missing fur.”

Hollinshead told them the dog had been to a vet and she had a letter from the vet but couldn’t produce it.

“The inspector saw lesions on the dog’s body, back and leg that were red and sore. The social worker) said it looked like a cigarette burn but (Hollinshead) said the lesion had been caused by the dog rubbing on the stairs.”

The court heard the animal was taken away by the social worker and the RSPCA arranged a visit to a vet.

The vet said the dog was emaciated, weighing 21kg when the norm was 25 kg.

A probation worker told the court Hollinshead had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and had not been taking her medication at the time of the alleged offences between November 23 and December 23, 2015. She said there were discrepancies in Hollinshead’s account and that the defendant was currently attending a course to control her heroin misuse.

Of Hough, who also has a heroin habit, she said: “He said the animal had been mistreated by (the lodger) and this had been allowed to happen. He feels he is partly responsible for the animal and he should have been there to protect it.”

Hollinshead told magistrates: “I would love to have animals again, I absolutely adored that dog. He saved me.”

Sentence: 18-month community order each, including a 30-day rehabilitation activity period. Total fines and costs each of £490. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires June 2026).

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