CONVICTED (2019) | backyard breeder Usman Khalid, born 4 January 1994, of Old Park Road, Wednesbury WS10 9JE – failed to seek treatment for an emaciated dog who died shortly after giving birth to 16 puppies.
Usman Khalid was found guilty of two animal welfare offences after failing to get veterinary treatment for Dogue de Bordeaux crossbreed Jinx after she gave birth to a huge litter of puppies.
The court heard that three of Jinx’s puppies had been still-born and one was crushed during birth. Eleven other puppies died days later.
Jinx, who was said to be “skin and bone”, was found by a concerned member of the public motionless and crying in a kennel at Khalid’s home. She was unable to stand and was suffering with diarrhoea.
Her mammary glands were severely ulcerated, which meant she could not provide her puppies with the milk they needed to survive.
They tried to pick her up but she screamed and moments later fitted and died in their arms.
The member of the public took Jinx’s body to a nearby vet – along with the one surviving puppy, Winnie – and the RSPCA were contacted.
Winnie received emergency treatment but was so gravely ill she was not expected to survive the night.
But the brave pup pulled through and went on to make a full recovery. She has since been rehomed by the RSPCA.
Inspector Nicola Johnson, who led the investigation, said the puppies’ bodies were never found.
She continued: “When I saw Jinx’s body it was quite clear she was emaciated with her ribs clearly visible and she had awful ulcers on her mammary glands which would have been very painful.
“If she was taken for treatment when the problem first arose I am in no doubt she would have survived.
“As we never found the puppies we were unable to establish how they died.
“This has been a terribly upsetting case to deal with but I would like to say a huge thank you to the members of the public who got involved by trying to help the mum and pup, alerting us to what they had found and bravely giving evidence in court which meant we could get some justice for Jinx and helped her pup Winnie survive.”
Sentencing: 200 hours of community service; total of £585 costs and charges. Banned for life from keeping animals.