Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Leigh, Greater Manchester: Jodie Mulcrow and David Herbst

May 25, 2019 misanthropic 7 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Jodie Mulcrow, born c. 1993, and David Herbst, born 1 November 1991, both of Wigan Road, Leigh WN7 – failed to treat their pet dog’s unexplained facial wounds.

Animal abusers David Herbst and Jodie Mulcrow from Leigh, Greater Manchester, UK. Pic: Facebook — David Herbst and Jodie Mulcrow avoided jail despite leaving their dog to suffer with horrific unexplained facial wounds.

Herbst, who is originally from South Africa, and partner Mulcrow were given suspended sentences after magistrates heard how their Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Emily, suffered shocking injuries from “blunt force trauma” whilst in their care.

Leigh couple David Herbst and Jodie Mulcrow avoided jail despite leaving their dog to suffer with horrific unexplained facial wounds.

The pair, who have four children, were both convicted of three animal abuse charges – which include failing to seek veterinary care, failing to get treatment for a skin condition and failing to protect a dog from pain and suffering.

They were found guilty following a trial, which they did not attend, back in April 2019.

During their sentencing hearing, RSPCA prosecutor Anna McDonald showed the bench images of the dog’s injuries.

Herbst and Mulcrow both denied causing the wounds, but magistrates heard how a truncheon spiked with nails was found on their property.

Ms McDonald told the bench how, in September 2018, the couple’s neighbour had been in her back garden when she heard the dog yelp next door.

“She asked if he (Herbst) had hit the dog,” she said. “He denied it.

“On November 23 he went over to his neighbour’s in a panic. Emily had a cut on her head over her eye. She advised him to take the dog to the vets.”

Staffy Emily suffered a horrific facial injury while in the care of evil Jodie Mulcrow and David Herbst from Leigh, Greater Manchester — A truncheon spiked with nails was found at the home South African national Herbst shares with partner Mulcrow and their children

Concerned about Emily’s welfare, the neighbour said she would take the dog to the vets herself if the couple didn’t.

“She could see that there was a puncture wound on the dog’s left cheek,” added Ms McDonald. “She contacted the RSPCA about the dog’s injuries.”

The dog was treated for the wounds to her eye and upper lip and put on painkillers.

She was later taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where vets determined that her injuries had been sustained a few days previously as a result of “blunt force trauma”.

When interviewed by RSPCA officers, the couple said that they had had “family dog” Emily for between two-and-a-half and three years.

Regarding her skin condition, they said that they had tried treating it, but it hadn’t worked.

Herbst said that he had let Emily in the field at the back of the couple’s house and that she had “come back” with the injuries to her head.

They said they didn’t have money to take her to the vet.

Ms McDonald told magistrates that Mulcrow said Emily had never been to see a vet and that she didn’t believe the dog had suffered because of her injuries.

Defending, Nick Woosey said: “He (Herbst) believed it was a deliberate injury but it wasn’t down to him. They regularly let the dog out in the field, he didn’t think anything of it.”

The bench said they were “horrified” by the images of the dog’s wounds.

Sentencing | eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; £615 each in costs. Banned from owning an animal for 20 years.

Wigan Today

Dogs

Falmouth, Cornwall: Aaron Pill

May 25, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Aaron Mark Pill (aka Aaron Oldfield – since deceased), of Falmouth – refused to pay for veterinary treatment for his dog’s injured leg.

Injured beagle Archie was neglected by Aaron Mark Pill from Falmouth

Pill was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a beagle known as Archie, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, when he appeared before magistrates.

Archie was rescued by the RSPCA after concerns were raised about Pill’s failure to provide treatment for the injury for almost two weeks.

Pill had taken Archie to a vet on 27 December 2018 where it was discovered he had injured his leg which was in need of urgent treatment.

After concerns Pill couldn’t afford the treatment, a call was made to the RSPCA, who offered to cover the cost, however Pill turned down the offer of help and claimed his dog had received treatment at another veterinary practice.

Despite attempts to follow up on the condition of his dog, Pill refused to show inspectors from the charity that his dog was getting better but on January 10 2019 Archie was found to be unable to bear weight on his untreated leg and was seized by police .

RSPCA inspector Paul Kempson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “It’s shocking that that Archie was left to suffer and that this physical distress was prolonged by the neglectful lack of action by Pill – who had even been offered help to cover the cost of Archie’s treatment by the RSPCA.

“There is never an excuse for leaving an animal to suffer needlessly where there is clearly an urgent need for veterinary treatment. Our pets are reliant on us and when an animal is injured it’s an owner’s duty to ensure they receive the veterinary care they need.”

Sentencing | fined £750 and a £20 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for two years. He was also deprived of ownership of Archie.

Cornwall Live

Update | May 2020:

Local newspapers have reported that Aaron Pill has passed away. Pill’s death is the subject of a murder inquiry and two men have now been charged.

Update | November 2021

Following a lengthy trial at Truro Crown Court Liam Bastow, then 25, and Kane Coggin, then 27, were found guilty of Aaron Pill’s murder and jailed for life.

Bastow’s partner and Kane Coggin’s sister Brea Coggin, 23, narrowly avoided prison for assisting an offender.

Georgia Potter, 51, of Meadowbank in Mylor Bridge became the final person to appear for sentencing after being convicted of assisting an offender.

Cornwall Live

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute: Georgina Bretman

May 25, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Georgina Anne Bretman, born c. 1989, of Glebefield Road, Helensburgh G84 8SZ – injected her own dog with insulin causing the animal to suffer hypoglycaemia, collapse, convulsions and seizures.

Former veterinary nurse Georgina Bretman deliberately poisoned her own dog for attention.

Attention-seeking veterinary nurse Bretman injected black-and-white cocker spaniel, Florence, with a drug that made the animal collapse and suffer from convulsions and seizures.

The two-year-old pup required immediate veterinary treatment to avoid falling into a coma and dying.

Bretman was convicted of causing the animal unnecessary suffering by injecting her with insulin.

Although no explanation was offered as to why the vet nurse had harmed her pet, the court was told that she was an “attention-seeker”.

On one occasion her employer, A&E Vets, gave Bretman an evening off – then correctly predicted that, within a few hours, her dog would suddenly become ill and be brought back to the surgery requiring emergency treatment.

Sheriff Joan Kerr found Bretman guilty of a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, of injecting Florence with insulin resulting in her requiring immediate treatment to “avoid coma or death”.

Florence returned to good health in the care of the Scottish SPCA.

Sheriff Kerr said: “Flo was vulnerable and completely dependant on you for her care.

“Your motivation to cause her this suffering may never be known, you have chosen not to shed any light on that when you spoke to a social worker.

“You have expressed no remorse for causing Flo such suffering.”

It was noted Bretman harmed her own pet in her leisure time, not any animals she worked with and was not banned from working with animals. She was later banned from practising as a veterinary nurse.

Her former employer, Lesley Herd, became suspicious after Florence was brought in for emergency treatment on several separate occasions – always suffering from the same mysterious symptoms.

During Bretman’s trial, Mrs Herd said: “The dog was fine between episodes so I really didn’t know what was going on with the dog at all, we couldn’t understand why she was having these episodes.”

Mrs Herd said that, on one occasion, she took blood samples from Florence to send to the Glasgow University Vet School for testing. Although Bretman volunteered to deliver the samples, they never arrived.

Mrs Herd said: “Initially she didn’t want any bloods taken to the vet school, then agreed it was really the only way forward if we were going to find out what was going on.

“She volunteered to take the blood to the vet school. Later I found out the blood had never arrived at the vet school.”

She told the court: “Because of the pattern of collapse and low blood glucose on each occasion and the fact that the dog was normal between episodes, I was suspicious insulin had been administered to the dog.”

She described Bretman as “quite attention seeking” and added: “I had said to my partner she will find an excuse to come in to the clinic because she’s not happy about having the night off and I said ‘I bet Flo collapses tonight’, and it did happen.”

Bretman was later suspended and sacked from her job.

Mrs Herd contacted the SSPCA because of her concerns.

In evidence Bretman denied the charge and said she wasn’t responsible and only ever wanted to find out what was wrong with Flo.

It was put to her during her evidence: “It might be suggested you took a dislike to the dog, that’s why you harmed her.”

Bretman said: “Not at all, I put a lot of energy in. She was my companion.”

Defence counsel Craig Findlater handed 18 pages of references to the sheriff for consideration before his client was sentenced.

He told the court she is now unemployed and has moved back to her family home.

Mr Finldater said: “She has grown up with animals around her. She is educated to degree level and gained employment within her chosen profession, that is caring for animals.”

Sentencing: community payback order of 140 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping dogs for two years (expired September 2019).

Daily Record

Update 2019

In May 2019 the RCVS Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee struck Bretman off the register.

The committee found Bretman’s actions in deliberately administering a poisonous substance to Florence, thereby risking her death, to be “very serious and deplorable conduct on the part of a veterinary nurse, a member of a profession specifically entrusted to look after and care for animals”.

It also took into account the fact Florence needed urgent veterinary treatment to avoid death and that Bretman was in a position of trust over Florence as her owner.

Evening Times

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Torry, Aberdeen: Kevin Goffin

May 18, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED | Kevin Goffin, born 25 September 1981, of Crombie Road, Torry, Aberdeen AB11 – kicked a chihuahua into the air, causing her to yelp in pain

Violent dog abuser/woman beater Kevin Goffin from Torry, City of Aberdeen. Pics: Facebook

Goffin, a drink and drug abuser with a long history of convictions for disorder and violence, booted the tiny unnamed dog two or three feet into the air during a street argument with his girlfriend.

The distressed chihuahua was taken to a vet and had to be given methadone before she could even be examined. While clearly in a great deal of pain, she had suffered no internal bleeding.

Goffin pleaded guilty to causing the animal unnecessary suffering by kicking her in the abdomen and also behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Depute fiscal Alan Townsend told the court that Goffin had gone to his partner’s home at around 10pm on April 20, 2019.

After being refused entry, the woman assumed he had left and took her dogs for a walk at around midnight.

Mr Townsend said: “The accused approached her as she was on this walk.

“A verbal argument then took place between the pair and neighbours, or other people in the vicinity, heard her say ‘can you leave me alone? I’m really scared’.”

The argument began to “escalate” and witnesses contacted police. Mr Townsend said: “A few minutes later, still arguing, police and witnesses see the accused kick the dog in the air.

“It’s described as travelling two or three feet. There was a yelp of pain.”

Police mugshot of convicted animal abuser and habitual criminal Kevin Goffin

The depute fiscal described the woman “screaming” and going to the door of one of the witnesses in “distress and shock”.

He said: “The dog was in a lot of pain and would squeal whenever anyone touched it.”

Goffin’s lawyer said his client had got into an argument with people in the block of flats where he lived and been advised to leave by police.

He said: “He went on a bender, drink and drugs, then went to hers.

“What he did to the dog is something he’s very ashamed of.”

He said the pair were still a couple and said: “She wants him back.”

Jailing Goffin for six months, Sheriff Mark Stewart said: “It’s not just a criminal record that’s lengthy, it has a certain undertone to it which involves disorder and violence.

“I have to say, it’s troubling that the violence is directed, among other places, to a domestic setting and also to other individuals who have been targeted for particular reasons.”

Sentencing: six months in jail

Source: Evening Express (article removed)

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Weoley Castle, Birmingham: Diane Johnson

May 18, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Diane Johnson, born 16 April 1980, of Dormston Drive, Weoley Castle, Birmingham B29 5XD – starved her pet chihuahua to death.

Dog killer Diane Johnson from Birmingham, UK — Dog killer Di Johnson from Birmingham

Diane Johnson has been banned from keeping animals for life after her pet chihuahua was found starved to death. Two other chihuahuas were discovered in an emaciated condition at her home.

Chihuahua Princess was starved to death by Diane Johnson from Birmingham, UK

Following a tip-off RSPCA Inspector Herchy Boal went to Johnson’s home, where she found a carrier bag containing the body of ‘Princess’ dumped in a rabbit hutch in her garden. It is believed the underweight dog had been dead for around two weeks.

Inspector Boal also found two other severely underweight chihuahua-type dogs inside the home – ‘Belle’, a tan dog, and ‘Minnie’, a white dog.

Dogs starved by Diane Johnson from Birmingham, UK

The surviving dogs were signed over to the RSPCA, along with Minnie’s ten-week-old puppy. They were nursed back to health and have since been rehomed.

Johnson pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Princess and one offence of failing to meet the needs of Minnie and Belle.

In mitigation, the court heard Johnson had family difficulties at the time of the offences.

Inspector Boal said: “Poor Princess died of starvation and must have suffered terribly over a long period. It is awful to think of the suffering she must have gone through.

“There is never an excuse to leave any animal starving in this day and age, then after Princess died she was dumped like rubbish in a carrier bag and left in a rabbit hutch outside.”

She added: “The other two dogs could have suffered a similar fate had it not been reported to us.

“This enabled us to take the other dogs away from this situation and in RSPCA care, where they were able to get back to a healthy weight and I am delighted that they have now been re-homed.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order – including a 40 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. Costs and charges totalling £285. Lifetime ban on keeping any animals.

Birmingham Mail

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Newport, South-East Wales: Doris Nartey

May 13, 2019 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Doris Nartey, born 13 January 1966, of Capel Crescent, Newport NP20 2EW – for a catalogue of cruelty towards two starved and neglected dogs.

Animal abuser: Doris Nartey from Newport in Wales.

Ghanaian national Doris Nartey pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences involving a starving Staffy named Rosie, who was described by an RSPCA inspector as a “bag of bones”, and a neglected French bulldog called Boss.

Rosie was starved and neglected by Doris Narty from Newport, Wales

In January 2019 RSPCA inspectors found Rosie tied to the stairs of a property in an emaciated body condition and Boss in a dog crate in the property with no food, water or bedding. Boss was also below normal body condition.

In an interview with the RSPCA the defendant said Rosie had not been to the vets as the weather has been bad and was tied to the stairs as she jumps up at her. Both dogs were in the care of Nartey.

RSPCA inspector Emma Smith said: “It is clear that both of these dogs had been neglected and their needs were not being met. I was just completely shocked when I saw Rosie in such an emaciated condition and tied to the stairs. She was just skin and bones – it was heartbreaking to see.

“When Rosie was taken out of the house, she drank eagerly from a pool of rainwater – she clearly was extremely thirsty. The dogs were immediately taken to a vets and following an examination Rosie was found to be dehydrated, had sores on her feet and was emaciated.

“The vet said she would have been suffering for four weeks due to her poor bodily condition. Boss’s needs were also not met due to his poor bodily condition.”

Doris Nartey from Newport is banned from keeping animals for five years after “bag of bones” dog tied to stairs

Rosie and Boss were placed on a specialised veterinary diet in RSPCA care for weight gain and were successfully rehomed from RSPCA Newport Animal Centre to a forever home together.

Nartey, whose adult children Cintia Nartey and Rio Nartey are understood to have lived with her at the time of the animal abuse, was said to be remorseful for her actions.

Sentencing | fine, costs and charges totalling £610. Banned from keeping any animal for five years (expires May 2024).

South Wales Argus

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Hoarders, Lifers, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Belton, Doncaster: Simon Hallgarth and Paul Walker

May 13, 2019 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | hoarders Simon Hallgarth, born c. 1971, and partner Paul Walker, born c. 1976, of Holland Close Villas, Woodhouse, Belton, Doncaster DN9 1QJ – for shocking cruelty towards 52 dogs and three goats.

Hoarders Paul Walker (left) and Simon Hallgarth from Doncaster have been banned from keeping animals for life

Simon Hallgarth and Paul Walker pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The RSPCA were alerted to the plight of the pair’s animals after receiving a call to its cruelty line about three abandoned goats, who were found living in a poor environment with no access to water.

Hoarders Simon Hallgarth and Paul Walker of Doncaster were jailed and given lifetime animal ban for neglecting dozens of dogs and three goats

As RSPCA Inspector Tamsin Drysdale spoke to Walker, a number of dogs could be heard barking from inside a garage nearby so she asked if she could see them.

She said: ““As the garage door was opened the smell of faeces and urine was overwhelming. There were four pens with various breeds of dogs living in them.

“Their food and water bowls were filthy and empty and the dogs were pungent, their coats in various stages of matting.

“The three dogs in the last pen were in such a poor condition I wasn’t sure what breed they were. Two of the dogs were moving, albeit very slowly, but the third dog, a Bichon Frise called Peggy, appeared to be dead.

“I went into the pen and gently shook her and I was shocked when she moved slightly.

“At the vets she was found to be very thin, in respiratory distress and hypothermic. She was initially unable to be examined because of the extent of the matting, which had to be cut away.

“She had a fractured wrist and wounds on her back legs so badly infected that they were down to the bone. The damage was irreparable and she was put to sleep on humane grounds.

“A large number of dogs were also living in the house, and though these were in better condition than those in the garage, many of these were also suffering.”

Three other dogs were also put to sleep on veterinary advice, including a 17-year-old Shih Tzu called Daisy who was in severe respiratory distress and had two blind shrunken eyes that were discharging green pus and her ears were also discharging pus.

Another dog, Cookie, had to have a leg amputated.

Seven of the 52 dogs removed from the property were suffering with severe dental disease, four of them with ear infections, two of them with eye infections and one with overgrown nails that had penetrated the pads of the dog’s feet.

Thirteen of the dogs and the three goats did not have their needs met due to the environment they were living in and/or a lack of fresh clean drinking water.

In mitigation, the court heard that Hallgarth had bought the dogs as a way of coping after the death of his mother in 2013, with whom he had bought the property, lived and owned dogs previously.

He accepted that he had caused very high suffering and was remorseful.

In respect of Walker, the court heard that the offences had been borne out of concern and care for his husband.

The court heard that both defendants were overwhelmed financially and by the level of care the animals needed. They were of previous good character and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Sentencing | 14 weeks in prison; post-sentence supervision orders of 12 months, less the time served in prison. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.

The Star
Doncaster Free Press

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

Burnhope, Durham: Kevin Knox

May 12, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | puppy farmer Kevin Knox, born 02/12/1959, of The Grove, Burnhope, Durham DH7 0AH – sold poorly puppies without a licence.

Puppy dealer Kevin Knox of Burnhope, Durham — Kevin Knox, who was previously exposed in a BBC documentary on puppy farming, was finally jailed and has also been hit with a huge tax bill

Kevin Knox, who traded as Ivy Leaf Kennels, sold puppies which buyers complained were sick on three occasions, while not in possession of a pet shop licence.

Two of those sales were made to customers who had responded to adverts placed under the false name of Graham Thompson.

Knox has now been jailed for eight months and given a five year ban from operating a pet shop, following a prosecution by Durham County Council.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Knox was a partner in Ivy Leaf at a premises elsewhere in the village, under a pet shop licence, until March 2018.

A judge was told that the council’s animal health team investigated beyond this date and concluded that the premises was still being run as a pet shop despite a licence no longer being in place.

Evidence was found of Knox advertising on the pet shop’s website and other online sales pages using a false name.

The court heard how in June 2018, the council received a complaint of a puppy, having been purchased via the Ivy Leaf website, becoming ill on the day of purchase.

Enquiries revealed that the purchasers contacted the business and spoke to Knox.

They then attended the Ivy Leaf site where Knox’s business partner showed them a selection of puppies and sold them one.

Further enquiries revealed that the defendant bought microchips and that he took 33 puppies in to vets between June and August 2018.

Knox pleaded guilty to two charges at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court in March – operating without a pet shop licence and giving false information as to his identity.

The sentencing hearing was told how Knox’s licence had been due for renewal in December 2017 and how he had taken until the February of the following year to seek this.

However the council refused the application in April 2018. The business had considered appealing but chose not to.

At the time, it had 30 dogs on the premises and the court heard Knox panicked and did not know what to do.

He accepted he could have called the council to ask but did not. Knox chose to sell the remaining puppies without a licence and used a neighbour’s name, although receipts were given in the name of Ivy Leaf.

The judge was told Knox had since lost his business, his house and his wife. He had also, apparently, broken his ankles and was in receipt of Universal Credit.

Sentencing | four months in prison for the offence of giving false information and one month for not having a pet shop licence, with these to be served at the same time. He was given a further four months in prison for breaching a suspended sentence. Five-year ban on operating a pet shop (expires May 2024).

Chronicle Live

Cats, Dogs, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers

Chatham, Kent: Keeley Boswell and Paul Flemming

May 11, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | serial animal abuser Keeley M Boswell, born 18 September 1986, and partner Paul M Flemming, born c. 1991, both of Gerald Avenue, Chatham ME4 5TF – banned from keeping animals after their dog’s broken leg had to be amputated.

Convicted animal abusers Keeley Boswell and Paul Flemming of Chatham in Kent

Keeley Boswell was already disqualified from keeping animals alongside previous partner James ‘Jimmy’ Moore for the severe neglect of an emaciated and flea-riddled Rottweiler named Bella and a Staffy, Rizla, with the latter having to be put to sleep.

Animals neglected by serial animal abusers Keeley Boswell and Paul Flemming of Chatham in Kent

In June 2018 RSPCA inspectors visited the home Boswell shares with latest partner Paul Flemming and discovered two flea-infested pets: 10-month-old Chihuahua Sandie and a cat called Princess Sandie also showed signs of a deformed forelimb.

Victims of convicted animal abusers Keeley Boswell and Paul Flemming of Chatham in Kent — Princess was covered in fleas

Both animals were taken to a veterinary surgery, where Sandie was found to have suffered a painful leg fracture, which would have occurred at least three weeks earlier and been caused by “great force”.

Chatham woman Keeley Boswell is a serial animal abuser — Keeley Boswell is a serial animal abuser

The couple’s solicitor told the court that Boswell was aware she had been banned from keeping animals but she wasn’t sure if the ban was still in force.

She also admitted when asked by inspectors that Sandie’s leg did not look straight.

Flemming said he hadn’t noticed any issue with the dog’s leg but admitted that he ought to have taken her to the vets.

Their solicitor asked magistrates to give the couple community orders rather than a custodial sentence, as they had multiple children in their care and Flemming was named as the household’s only breadwinner.

In addition to the animal cruelty charges, Boswell was convicted of breaching a disqualification order, whilst Flemming was convicted of aiding and abetting this.

Sentencing | 18-week suspended sentence; 400 hours of unpaid work with supplementary rehabilitation sessions; £450 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires May 2029).

Kent Online

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Wallasey, Merseyside: Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo

May 10, 2019 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo, aka Elle Downie, born c. 1993, of Victoria Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH45 9LB – left her puppy with ‘horrific and severe’ injuries to the ribs and jaw.

Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo was banned from keeping animals after her puppy was left with broken ribs and a broken jaw

Downie-Ntemo pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to her shih tzu type puppy called Darcey.

Darcey was severely injured while in the care of Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo — Darcey had three broken ribs down one side of her body and three dislocated ribs on the other side.

The court heard how Downie-Ntemo took Darcey to a local vets with three broken ribs down one side of her body and three dislocated ribs on her other side on October 24, 2018.

Darcey’s jaw was also broken in two places

Downie-Ntemo said that she had ‘thrown’ the puppy in the air and failed to catch her, with her landing on laminate flooring, claiming this is what caused the rib injuries.

She said that the jaw injuries happened a few hours later after she had found Darcey ‘frothing’ at the mouth and put her in the bath – she said the dog was ‘struggling’ in the bath and ‘fell’ causing the jaw to break in two places.

An expert witness disputed that the injuries could have been caused in this way – the RSPCA were later alerted and Inspector Naomi Morris went to investigate.

She said that Darcey was injured on October 23 but vet treatment had not been sought by Downie-Ntemo until the following day, so she was left suffering overnight.

In mitigation the court heard how Downie-Ntemo is being treated for depression.

Inspector Norris said: “It was heartbreaking to see this tiny puppy with such horrific and severe injuries.

“Darcey was admitted to the vets in a very severe condition she was clearly in a lot of pain and because of her rib injuries she was struggling to breathe.

Darcey, victim of dog abuser Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo from Wallasey — Puppy Darcey is recovering well in spite of her ordeal at the hands of her cruel previous owner

“I cannot believe how she has coped with her injuries at such a young age but thankfully she has made great progress and is recovering well.

“It is always sad when animals have been injured and neglected but this particular puppy is a little miracle because she was so small and vulnerable.

“The RSPCA cannot investigate these situations without the support and generosity of the public and we are always grateful for this help.”

Darcey is now in a foster home where she is said to be making a remarkable recovery.

Sentencing: community order of 60 hours of unpaid work. Costs and charges totalling £685. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires May 2024).

Wirral Globe
Liverpool Echo

Additional Information

Following Eiliscia Downie-Ntemo’s conviction for animal cruelty, a former friend of hers – an animal lover – alleged on Facebook that another dog had come to harm while in Downie-Ntemo’s care. The allegation is that this dog was deliberately drowned in the bath by a third person.

Downie-Ntemo then acquired another dog, who she sold on straightaway apparently frustrated that the dog toileted in the house.

This conversation. during which the ex friend expresses her concerns, took place just before Downie-Ntemo bought Darcey from a breeder

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: May 2019