CONVICTED (2023) | Sonia Marcos, aka Hope Marcos, born c. 1980, of Lewisham Road, Lewisham SE13 – left her dog to starve to death while she went abroad on holiday.
Lying Sonia Marcos claimed her dog had been a healthy weight when she left for Portugal and that she had arranged for someone to look after her, but none of her claims stacked up
Marcos, a former nursery nurse who now works in social care, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her Jack Russell/chihuahua cross named Bella.
She said she left Bella alone while she went away for two weeks to visit a sick relative in Portugal. By the time she returned, the dog was emaciated and died later that day.
In what a vet described as the worst case of starvation they’d ever seen, Bella was so skinny every bone in her body was visible
Describing Bella’s condition, investigating RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday told the court: “Every rib was fully displayed, the entire pelvis and spine visible and the cranial structure of the skull could be seen. The neck appeared so scrawny I wouldn’t have thought the dog would have been able to keep her head up should she have been alive.”
The court heard how Marcos gave the contact details of the ‘friend’ she’d entrusted to care for Bella but they were not contactable and the housing association had no record of such a person living at the property. There was also no evidence of Marcos even going on holiday.
A vet expert also said the dog weighed just half of what she did as a puppy in 2017. Bella’s nails were also overgrown, with some having grown into the pads.
The vet said: “Bella should have comfortably been three to four times the weight she was at the time of her death. It is my opinion that her emaciation and clinical presentation were reflective of an extended period of starvation.
“This did not occur over two weeks while the defendant was apparently away, but was the culmination of many weeks of severe neglect.”
At just 2.25kg, Bella weighed half of what she did as a puppy
The dog was also severely dehydrated and had fleas and overgrown nails which were growing into the pads of her feet, likely causing great pain.
A postmortem found no medical cause of Bella’s poor bodily condition other than a lack of food.
Marcos is a single mother of three children, and the court heard that she suffered from depression.
At a previous hearing Marcos was warned she could face a custodial sentence but on May 17, 2023, it was decided that instead she would be given a community order.
Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation; £114 victim surcharge. Disqualified from owning any animals for life.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Nadine Wells, born 13 May 1993, of 76 Cornshell Fields, Derry BT48 7UH – for the ill-treatment of a German shepherd and two of her puppies.
Wells was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the German Shepherd named Bella and two puppies.
The complaint was brought against Wells by Derry City and Strabane District Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.
Wells’s dog Bella produced a litter of nine puppies but the vile backyard breeder only faced cruelty charges in relation to two of the pups and Bella herself
An investigation was carried out by the council’s Animal Welfare Officer, after a complaint that a German Shepherd puppy was hanging out the top window of a home trying to drink water off the outside of the window.
The dogs were then found to be living in unhygienic conditions and had no access to water.
All three dogs were successfully re-homed by the local authority.
Sentencing | two-year conditional discharge; total costs of £434. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires May 2028).
CONVICTED (2023)| Kayley Elizabeth Patricia Pugh, aka Kayley Shellam, born 25 July 1999, currently of Llandysul, Ceredigion, but with links to the towns of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest – for the cruel abandonment of eight reptiles entrusted to her care.
Pugh, a mother-of-three, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to leopard geckos Thor, Luna and Thora and a Chinese crested water dragon called Maverick.
The court heard that the owner of the reptiles had asked Pugh to look after them for a period of time, but when they went to collect them on 27 August 2022, four reptiles were dead – four others were still alive. In a written statement presented to the court, inspector Keith Hogben, said he was shown several vivariums which had been collected from an address in Alltwalis, Carmarthen.
Two of the reptiles left to die by callous Kayley Pugh
“I looked into the vivariums and was informed when they were found there was no water for the reptiles and no heat,” he said.
One vivarium contained two dead leopard geckos, Thor and Luna, and another vivarium contained a Chinese water dragon named Maverick who was also dead.
Another vivarium contained a crested gecko named Oryx who was found dead. Two emerald swifts named Bow and Arrow, a leopard gecko named Thor and a bearded dragon called Hoggle were all found alive.
A written statement from a veterinary surgeon, who examined the dead and living reptiles, said the four dead reptiles had “advanced states of decomposition” which “indicates that no daily care had been provided to these animals”.
Fly eggs were noted in the oral cavity and on the skin of two carcasses. Thor, Luna and Maverick were all described to be of an “emaciated condition”, while crested gecko Oryx was presented as a “mummified carcass” which meant it was not possible for an internal examination. In the vet report it was concluded that “the three animals as evidenced by their emaciated body conditions, low weights relative to body length and absence of food in their digestive systems are highly likely to have died from starvation, either because food provision was inadequate or absent or because the animals were in poor health and had become inappetent.”
In relation to leopard gecko Thora, the vet said that due to her “poor condition and ocular infection and superficial skin injuries [she ] had in my opinion been subjected to unnecessary suffering for a number of weeks”.
Sadly soon after coming into RSPCA care Thora died.
Following sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “This is a very sad case where these deaths were completely avoidable if they had been given the proper care.
“RSPCA urges potential owners – or those given responsibility for these animals – to research and look into what is required in the care of their exotic pet first before taking one on so they know what is involved.”
Sentencing | 12 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, 150 hours unpaid work, 12 rehab days with probation, £400 costs £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all mammals and reptiles for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Deborah Ferry, born 23 June 1973, of 69 Matfen Gardens, Howdon, Wallsend NE28 0ER – moved out of a filthy property leaving her pets behind to starve to death.
Debi Ferry left her cats to starve to death in her abandoned home
Ferry’s three-year-old tortoiseshell cat, named Megan, was found dead in the living room of her home in Tynemouth Road, Wallsend. Ferry had moved out of the property to live with her boyfriend and left the cat behind.
The severely decomposed remains of another cat were discovered behind a bath panel.
The house of horrors where the remains of two dead cats were found after their owner moved out
The court heard how RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws visited the Wallsend property on August 25, 2022, following a report of concern for the welfare of a cat living there.
When there was no reply at the house, she looked through the letter box and noted a strong smell, the presence of flies and rubbish strewn across the floor.
The pathway to the rear of the property was also laden with mess and she could see the kitchen looked dirty and hazardous.
On August 29 police were called to gain entry to the property where Megan was found dead next to a shopping trolley in the living room.
RSPCA inspector Rowena Proctor told the court: “The smell through the letterbox was dreadful and there were a lot of flies buzzing at the window. Once the door was open, the smell was so much worse than expected. Flies seemed to be everywhere, hundreds of them.
“An old indoor cage base from a guinea pig cage was being used as a litter tray. This was very dirty with numerous piles of faeces. The cooker top was completely covered by dirty dishes. The kitchen bench was filthy and had empty tins of cat food, a very spoiled bowl of milk which had flies stuck into the solidified top and two pet food bowls with some old, dried food.
“The bedrooms were as messy and unclean as the rest of the property, again with bare floorboards, bare walls, cat faeces, general filth, food wrappers and stained mattresses. Entering the bathroom, it felt as though I was being swarmed by flies. The dirty toilet had at least 20 flies floating in it.”
The officer described how she noticed a “cat-sized” hole in the side of the bath and pulled the panel off to find a black and white cat which had been dead for some time. The animal’s pelvic bones were visible and no eyeballs remained in the head.
“Thousands of live fleas attached themselves to me once the panel was removed,” said the inspector. “I have dealt with a lot of flea ridden animals but I have never seen fleas to this extent.”
Police enquiries were made and Ferry was arrested at an address in Wallsend later that day.
During her interview, Ferry described the living conditions as a “s**t hole” and said it had been like that for two to three months.
She said she was disgusted with herself and confirmed that she had neglected the cats but couldn’t afford the gas or electricity at the property and was staying with her partner.
A post mortem showed that Megan had a portosystemic shunt which was affecting her liver function and food metabolism.
Ferry had also failed to seek veterinary help for Megan’s chronic flea infestation, which had caused her to suffer from inflamed skin and hair loss for several weeks.
Megan’s prolonged, untreated skin disease had also caused distress and abnormal behaviour of excessive over grooming, including hair ingestion, although this could also have been triggered by hunger.
The report said Megan died due to starvation, in combination with her liver shunt.
Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Proctor added: “This was an extremely upsetting case to investigate. The conditions inside the house were horrendous and the amount of flies and fleas were on a scale that I hadn’t seen before.
“No animal should ever be put in a position where they are left to fend for themselves. If people are struggling we would urge them to contact animal welfare charities for assistance and help with rehoming, rather than leaving their pets to suffer and die alone like poor Megan did.”
Sentencing | 12-week jail term, suspended for 18months; ordered to pay a total of £754. Lifetime ban on owning all animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | Michael Lee Orton, born c. 1963, of 8 Newnham Road, Binstead, Ryde PO33 3TD – slashed his dog’s neck with a craft knife causing fatal injuries.
Michael Orton, who goes by the first name Lee, received a community order for killing the family dog and slashing his wife Helen Orton’s face and throat
The Akita, known as Kora, died from blood loss after being stabbed by Orton during a domestic meltdown on 20 June 2022 in which his wife, Helen Orton, was also attacked. Orton then slashed his own neck.
Police were alerted after Helen Orton fled the property covered in blood and flagged down a passing Morrisons van.
Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time
Orton had sliced an artery and suffered ‘catastrophic blood loss’. He required a blood transfusion at hospital, and it was later apparent that he had suffered a right-sided stroke – which resulted in a loss of mental capacity.
Helen Orton suffered multiple knife wounds in the attack, including a large slash wound to her throat, a deep slash wound to her jaw described as being ‘well into subcutaneous fat’, several less serious wounds to her head and face and bruising to her back. Whilst attacking his wife, Orton had said “why don’t you die”.
It was concluded that Orton was too unwell to stand trial. His wife is standing by him
Police officers also attempted to save Kora, dressing her neck wound as she struggled for breath and arranging for an emergency vet to prepare for surgery. But as she was carried towards the police van ahead of a blue light run to the practice, she passed away – around 45 minutes after being stabbed.
Lee Orton spent some four months in hospital before being released and put before the courts.
Helen Orton has stood by her husband since the incident, visiting him in hospital and withdrawing a statement she provided to the police investigating the attack.
A three-day fact-finding hearing held at Salisbury Crown Court in April 2023 saw a jury unanimously conclude that Michael Orton – commonly known as Lee – committed the act of attempted murder and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Judge Timothy Mousley handed him a two-year community supervision order.
CONVICTED (2023) | Raki Islam, born 7 November 1978, of 195 High Street, Prestonpans EH32 9AY – for the mistreatment of multiple dogs kept at the home she shared with co-accused (but acquitted) Kevin John Martin born 16 November 1971.
Raki Islam and husband Kevin Martin had faced charges in relation to seven dogs suffering from a number of health conditions including demodectic mange, deep bacterial pyoderma, malassezia, pachy dermatitis, giardiasis, verminosis, a parasite burden, and severe bilateral conjunctivitis.
The pair were already well-known to the Scottish SPCA. Inspector Fiona Thorburn said the charity had “received multiple reports to our animal helpline dating back many years, with concerns about living conditions and animal cruelty and neglect at both the locus in Prestonpans and other properties in East and West Lothian.
Regarding the investigation and prosecution, Inspector Thorburn said: “In June 2021 a report was made to our helpline and videos sent to us of 13 dogs being kept in the rear garden of the property on High Street [Prestonpans] which was covered in faeces and had no adequate shelter.
“The videos were extremely concerning with seven of the dogs appearing to be underweight and virtually bald with very thickened skin.
“With sufficient evidence a warrant was granted by the procurator fiscal, the property was attended along with Police Scotland and the local authority.
“Entry to the property was forced and the 13 dogs were found in the garden which was heavily soiled with diarrhoea, faeces and urine. There was not enough shelter provided for the number of dogs and the smell was overwhelming.
“Several of the dogs were bald and suffering from very severe skin conditions. Their eyes and ears were also painful and infected with copious discharge, and some were underweight.
“All 13 of the dogs were removed and taken for immediate veterinary examination and treatment.
“Seven puppies were found to have a heavy mange burden, which is usually only evident in animals with compromised immune systems. They had chronic secondary infections because of this which affected their skin, ears, eyes, feet and genitals, causing pain and irritation.
“The puppies also had giardia, meaning they were both infected by, and actively shedding, the parasite causing severe diarrhoea. If left untreated this disease can be deadly.”
Islam and Martin were charged with failing to provide adequate care and allowing dogs to suffer. They were also said to have failed to provide adequate shelter and bedding and exposed the animals to faeces and urine between July 1, 2019, and June 14, 2021.
Martin faced additional allegations of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at his home on February 23, 2021.
Martin, who is no stranger to the courts with previous convictions for offences such as assault and failure to adhere to a dog control notice pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and these were accepted by the crown.
Islam pleaded guilty to a single charge but, quite unbelievably, dodged punishment altogether.
Instead she was admonished by the court and will still be allowed to keep animals.
SSPCA inspector Thorburn expressed her disappointment over the latest shocking injustice by the Scottish courts.
She said: “We feel saddened that despite the time and effort we have taken putting together a case where Islam has been charged, she has only been admonished. We believe this decision will likely result in more dogs suffering unnecessarily in the future.
“The dogs removed from Islam’s property took several months to fully recover in the care of the Scottish SPCA and thankfully have now found loving homes where their welfare needs will be met.”
In February 2015 the Daily Record published an article on Kevin Martin’s dispute with neighbours over a herd of 24 pigs kept in inadequate conditions at his Magic Farm business in Willow Rise, Haddington, which he ran with brother-in-law Shafiqul Islam.
The pigs were seized in February 2014 under animal welfare laws.
Martin appealed against the seizure but his case was thrown out at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Martin complained to the Record that he had been discriminated against by “the poshest people in Scotland” who “bombarded the council with ridiculous complaints about me”.
The Record also reported that Martin, who “has a conviction for violence and had criminal associates”, was targeted by gangland enforcer Frank Doris in 2008 when a £30,000 contract was put on his head. Doris was hired by a property developer named Martin Black, who claimed he was living in fear of Martin after a soured business deal.
Martin said he moved to East Lothian to put his past behind him.
He said he kept the pigs for a planned social inclusion project he wanted to set up to help inner city kids learn countryside skills.
Martin, who describes himself as an “ethical entrepreneur”, claimed police raided the Magic Far business after receiving a tip-off he was running a cannabis farm.
He has a colourful business history, including interests in diamond mines in Sierra Leone and importing coconuts from Bangladesh and admitted tax evasion during a trial.
In March 2020 Kevin Martin was given a three-year ban on owning dogs after allowing a large-breed dog to roam and attack two of his neighbours’ pets.
The dog – a Turkish Kangal – savaged a retriever and a terrier in the grounds of the Whittingehame Estate, east of Haddington, East Lothian.
The Kangal – originally bred to protect livestock from wolves, bears and jackals – attacked both dogs by pinning them to the ground and biting them to the neck while out on walks with their owners.
Martin had been served with a dog control notice following a series of complaints from several worried residents of the exclusive £1.5million apartments in 2018.
But he continued to allow the guard dog, named Mia, out on her own to patrol the grounds before the out-of-control animal then went on to carry out the attacks on his neighbours’ pets.
Martin, who runs a social enterprise for disadvantaged children called the Earthy School Project, denied being the owner of the dog and breaching the control notice, and stood trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on several dates in 2019.
The court was told that Martin had been served with the dog notice on September 5, 2018 after numerous complaints from Whittingehame residents about the Kangal being allowed out on her own.
Martin claimed he had bought the 30kg guard dog as “a livestock guardian” as foxes had attacked his geese and hens, but denied being the actual owner of the animal.
Martin was also facing a separate allegation of assaulting sheriff officer Alex Horne, who had attended at his property in July 2018.
Mr Horne told the court that he was climbing a gate when Martin nudged it with his vehicle during a visit to the estate to serve him a notice. He also said Martin had attempted to punch him during the confrontation.
Following the evidence, Martin was found guilty of failing to adhere to a dog control notice and allowed his animal to attack other dogs, causing injury, at Whittingehame Estate on four occasions on September 14 and 29, October 3 and 28, 2018.
Martin was also found guilty of assaulting sheriff officer Alexander Horne by driving a vehicle at and colliding with a fence Mr Horne was surmounting and attempting to punch him on July 16, 2018.
The sheriff fined Martin £200 and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
CONVICTED (2023) | Mark Flintham, born 8 December 1968, of Lock House, Abingdon Lock, Abingdon OX14 3NW – killed a goose by stamping on it, kicking it and attempting to break its neck.
Headcase: police described Mark Flintham’s vicious attack on a helpless goose as “very disturbing”
Between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on 10 August 2022, Mark Flintham was seen by members of the public grabbing a wild goose in Abbey Meadows, Abingdon.
Flintham stamped on the bird and then kicked it and attempted to break its neck, before taking the lifeless bird away from the park.
Flintham (left, outside court) was photographed holding the injured goose
The incident was investigated by Thames Valley Police’s rural crime taskforce and Flintham was charged on 18 January 2023.
Flintham initially pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty by the court.
Under the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to kill or injure any wild animal, and wild birds are only allowed to be killed or taken under license.
Sentencing | 18 week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; alcohol treatment; rehabilitation activity requirement; £304 costs. Disqualified from keeping any animal for five years (expires May 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders James William David Musk, born 27 November 1989, of 25 Windmill Green, Ditchingham, Bungay NR35 2QP and Megan Louise Caston, born 18 November 1995 of 2 Barley Close, Harleston IP20 9GB – for allowing illegal ear cropping.
James Musk bought a 12-week-old puppy knowing her ears had been illegally cropped. He and then girlfriend Megan Caston then failed to get treatment for the puppy’s ears when they became infected.
Musk pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and aiding a prohibited procedure in relation to an XL Bully puppy called Ocean.
The backyard breeder admitted being involved in the mutilation of Ocean whom he had arranged to buy just days after her ear flaps had been cut off to make her look more menacing.
The illegal procedure, which left just a few centimetres of cartilage, led to the dog’s wounds becoming infected.
Both Musk and Caston admitted causing unnecessary suffering after failing to provide pain relief, antibiotics or seek help from vets.
The RSPCA were called in when the dog’s plight was discovered after a police search in Ditchingham, near Bungay, on February 9, 2023,
Sara Pratt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said photos found on Musk’s phone showed him with Ocean still with her ears shortly before buying her.
Messages exchanged with a dog breeder in Leicestershire included one stating: “I’ll speak to someone, I’ll get the ball rolling”, which Ms Pratt said was a reference to having the puppy’s ear cropped.
Other XL dogs with previously cropped ears were also discovered during the search, including another American Bully called King Kong.
Driven by profit: animal welfare evidently figures very low in the priorities of unscrupulous breeders Musk and Caston who routinely produce puppies like this one bound to suffer from major breathing difficulties
Speaking after the case RSPCA Inspector Dean Astillberry said: “Ear cropping is a horrific immoral, unnecessary and repulsive practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them lifelong health, behavioural and social problems.
“This is done purely for cosmetic purposes. We would urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember this is an illegal procedure, which has a hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves.
“I am pleased to say Ocean is doing very well and is thriving in her foster home and we would like to thank the Norfolk police officers for all their help and support with this case.”
A spokesperson for Norfolk police said officers had carried out a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act with the RSPCA when Ocean was seized and taken into care.
“Ocean was not microchipped, was unregistered, and had had her ears recently cut off to the base,” they added.
“Her wounds were infected and had ineffective stitching, showing the illegal practice to have been conducted without any appropriate skill or aftercare.
“Collaborative working between the police and the RSPCA led to a successful prosecution of the owners and should discourage anybody considering this procedure.”
Sentencing | Musk: 20 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. Banned from owning or looking after animals for 20 years. Caston: eight-week jail sentence suspended for a year. Banned from involvement with animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Jake Smith aka Jay Jones, born 30 December 1998, of 1 Gardd Y Meddyg, Risca, Newport NP11 6EU – subjected a French bulldog puppy to multiple brutal beatings, leading to his death.
Smith, who works as a kitchen/bedroom fitter, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a French bulldog puppy, known as Rio. Police officers found the dog dead after he had suffered multiple injuries including a fractured jaw, rib and leg as well as a collapsed lung.
Rio, who was only a few months old, was found dead in a pool of blood after sustaining traumatic injuries.
Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Darren Bishop, told Newport Magistrates’ Court: “This investigation involves the alleged abuse of a French bulldog which was found deceased by police and discovered to have blunt force trauma injuries of a non-accidental nature.
“This dog had sustained significant blunt force trauma on at least four separate occasions – fractured left front leg, fractured jaw, blow to the top of the head, chest and injuries.
“The fourth episode of blunt force trauma resulted in the dog’s death via lung collapse.
“There had been prolonged or deliberate ill-treatment or neglect.”
The court heard police were called to Smith’s flat over concerns about his mental health and that he had said he was going to kill himself.
When officers went to the defendant’s address he wasn’t there and claimed he had left the dog in the bath until it had drowned.
“The defendant’s explanation is not consistent with the expert evidence,” Mr Bishop said.
A post-mortem examination carried out by Liverpool University’s pathology department revealed the extensive physical injuries Rio had suffered.
The offence was committed between August 1 and August 17, 2022. The defendant had no previous convictions.
Ian George, representing Smith, said: “He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
“The defendant had something of a troubled background and had a traumatic upbringing.
“He was in the midst of a mental health episode at the time and said he was going to kill himself.
“The defendant is not an essentially cruel person.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and he should have contacted the RSPCA for the dog to be rehoused.
“The defendant is traumatised at facing custody for being cruel to his dog.”
Sentencing | 16-week custodial suspended for 12 months; 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement; costs of £500 plus £154 surcharge. . Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires May 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Xavier Tulley, born 28 August 1991, and David Barlow, born c. 1961, of Norwich Croft, Marston Green, Solihull, Birmingham B37 5PR – failed to provide care for puppies bred to sell, leading to one being put down.
Xavier Tulley, who has links to the Smethwick area of Birmingham, mistreated the puppies he bred to sell
Xavier Tulley and his father David Barlow were both found guilty of two animal welfare offences, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Star and her sister Jet were both found in an extremely poor condition.
Concerned vets contacted the RSPCA after two 13-week-old American bulldog puppies, named Jet and Star, were presented to different vets at different times – both in a state of neglect.
Star was taken to a vets’ practice on February 8, 2022, by Barlow. He said that she had been attacked by her mother earlier that day and had sustained several bite wounds around her head, ears and chest.
He informed the vet that she was one of a litter of eleven, intentionally bred from his own bitch and son’s male dog and all of whom, including this pup, had been sold already for £200 each.
He said the puppy was not vaccinated nor microchipped. He thought she had received worming treatment but was not sure with what or when and she had received no other antiparasitic treatment.
Upon examination, the vet found her in an extremely poor condition, thin with massive abdominal distension.
In their report, the vet concluded: “The physical needs of this puppy were not met and in this respect she had suffered as a consequence over the weeks prior to examination.
“There was no suggestion that the owner had inflicted any injury but I felt her extremely poor physical state and filthy condition represented a failure to care for her properly and to ensure her needs were met.
“I was very concerned that the owner had failed to notice that she was very unwell in other respects than for the reason she was presented.”
Just days later on February 11, a second puppy, called Jet, was taken to a different vet by Barlow, who reported that she had been involved in a fight with another similarly aged puppy.
Jet was in a collapsed state and had multiple wounds over her body, which the vet said would have been causing her to suffer pain and discomfort because of the severity.
Barlow said that the wounds had been inflicted approximately 18 hours prior to being presented to the vet.
However, on presentation, the condition and odour of the wounds on Jet’s body suggested to the vet they were older than this, and that the severity warranted immediate veterinary attention.
Following discussions with Barlow, the decision was made to have her euthanised to alleviate her suffering.
RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones said: “These puppies had been bred and sold for financial gain but were failed when they didn’t receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they urgently needed it.
“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy and ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of that responsibility.”
Star, who has been in the care of the RSPCA since her rescue, was signed over to the charity by the court when Tulley was sentenced and can now be found a new home.
Sentencing |
Xavier Tulley: jailed for 18 weeks
David Barlow: three-month curfew; costs of £600 and £95 victim surcharge.
Both received a lifetime disqualification on keeping all animals.
