CONVICTED (2023) | Paul Hancel, born c. 1971, of Mitcham Road, Thornton Heath, London Borough of Croydon – failed to get vet treatment for an underweight bulldog puppy with a severe skin condition.
Paul Hancel failed to provide puppy Winter with the veterinary treatment she desperately needed
Hancel pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his puppy, known as Winter and aged around three to four months, by failing to address the cause of her poor bodily condition.
Winter came to the attention of the RSPCA when Hancel eventually took her to a vet on Friday, February 17, 2023.
She was suffering from poor bodily condition, was very thin and had an extremely bad skin condition, which was causing crusting and bleeding over her face and body.
Winter was prescribed antibiotics and pain relief, and Hancel was told to bring her back in 10 days if the condition didn’t improve, or straight away if it worsened, prosecutor Lauren Bond said.
Tragically, Winter was put to sleep to prevent further suffering
Hancel brought Winter back to the vet on Monday and told them she had not been eating since Saturday evening, and had not been moving since Sunday night.
The dog’s weight had dropped by 1kg over the weekend and the vet recommended she be put to sleep.
When he was interviewed, Hancel said Winter’s weight had become an issue a week before he went to the vet.
Hancel said that his boiler had stopped working in December, then his car stopped working in February, so didn’t have much money and had no way to travel to the vet.
Instead he unsuccessfully tried to medicate for the dog’s illnesses using ointments and shampoo he ordered online.
Ms Bond said: “What the vet concluded is that in their professional assessment Winter’s need for food and medical attention had been neglected.”
She added: “Neglect, whether voluntary or passive, allowed Winter to suffer over the extent of her short life.”
Magistrates asked Hancel if he had considered contacting the RSPCA for help.
“That didn’t come into my mind to be honest,” he said.
Sentencing Hancel, a magistrate told him: “Quite frankly the photographs I’ve seen were horrific.”
“This is one of the most difficult incidents we’ve seen in terms of the suffering of this animal. We believe there were enough opportunities for you to have phoned somebody, a friend, the RSPCA, to ask for the animal to be taken off you.”
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Harriet Dalliday said: “The dog’s skin condition was absolutely dreadful and it looked as if her body had been mummified. It was a shocking case to deal with considering how young the dog was and that she was allowed to get into that state of neglect in four months.”
Sentencing | 18 month community order including 210 hours of unpaid work; £300 towards costs. Disqualified from owning any animal for 10 years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Kerri Dunstan, born c. 1988, of 27 Anderson Street, West Marsh, Grimsby DN31 2LY – failed to treat her kittens’ severe flea infestation, leading to them dying.
Mother-of-three Dunstan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens by failing to provide adequate or any parasitic control.
This failure led to the kittens becoming anaemic and subsequently dying.
One of the flea-ridden kittens found in the Grimsby home of Kerri Dunstan
Dunstan also pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met, namely by failing to provide any or adequate parasitic control, to investigate and address the cause of the kittens’ poor bodily condition and to failing to take any steps to resolve any severe flea infestation affecting the animals.
Another two kittens from the same litter had died three days before the RSPCA visited the home, while a fifth had been taken to the Blue Cross in Grimsby in a “barely responsive” state and also passed away.
Magistrates heard how an RSPCA animal rescue worker, Hannah Williams, had visited Dunstan’s home in August 2022. She found two kittens in a lethargic state and crawling with fleas. They were taken for immediate veterinary treatment, but died the following day.
In her evidence to the court, the vet who examined the two kittens rescued by the RSPCA said: “Both of them were suffering from severe anaemia with heavy flea infestation and hypothermia. They were placed in an incubator to try and raise their body temperatures and were sprayed with Fipronil and combed for fleas. They were syringe fed milk regularly and their temperature was also monitored.
“By night-time, both kittens showed some improvement in demeanour and their temperatures had risen, but still below the normal acceptable range. Monitoring continued overnight and they were both given subcutaneous fluids.”
Sadly, the kittens continued to deteriorate and could not be saved. Their mother, a three-legged black and white cat called Luna, was also removed from Dunstan’s house and taken for urgent treatment.
The kittens’ mother, Luna, was also in a poor condition but recovered in the RSPCA’s care and was rehomed
On examination, Luna was found to be underweight and also suffering from a heavy flea infestation, with scabs around her ears and neck which had been caused by constant scratching. Like the two kittens, she was seized by police under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Dunstan was on holiday at the time the kittens were seized, but said during interview that she had “used flea bombs and sprays” inside the house. She apologised for what had happened and said that she had not realised the level of care the animals required, the court heard.
Magistrates said they could not understand why she had allowed the kittens to get into such a poor state. Luna has since been rehomed by the RSPCA, and a deprivation order was also ordered by the court to protect another cat living at the property.
Sentencing | 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 month; costs of £500 and victim services surcharge of £154. One adult cat was surrendered to the RSPCA. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Becky Louise Moore, born 19 January 1979, and Andrew Thomas, born c. 1981, of 9 Tudor Avenue in Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9RH – kept four dogs and four cats in filth at their disgusting home, with the decaying remains of a fifth dog and a rabbit found amidst the chaos.
Becky Moore and partner Andrew Thomas received an indefinite ban on keeping animals after the remains of a decaying dog and rabbit were found alongside eight surviving pets in horror conditions
In a witness statement to the court RSPCA investigator Ryan King described the conditions in which he found three French bulldogs, a Staffy and four cats as “awful .. the smell was dreadful: a mix of faeces, ammonia and decay.”
Inspector King said he found rubbish and mess all over the counters of the kitchen and spotted tins of dog food on the floor which were all empty.
“There was rubbish and faeces everywhere. There were three dog cages in the room, two were filthy and the other was at an angle so that a dog could not get into it,” he said.
“On the sofa, which had been ripped up to the point I could see the springs, I found the remains of a dog – a jaw bone, part of the skull, clumps of black fur and a grey flea collar.
“The bathroom had faeces and rubbish on the floor, and in the bedroom next to the bathroom there was a rabbit cage on top of a set of drawers next to a bunk bed. Inside the cage was the remains of a rabbit.”
Several of the dogs were treated for fleas, and had itching and discharge in the eyes or ears. One dog was suffering from a prolapsed third eyelid gland and inflammation.
One of the surviving animals
An expert vet witness stated that in his opinion, the four dogs and four cats were housed within an unhygienic environment raising concerns for the welfare of these animals, and that in his opinion, four of the animals had been caused to suffer, and that the needs of all nine animals had not been met.
The surviving animals were seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA, where they will now be found new homes.
Moore and Thomas were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to four dogs, and for not taking steps to ensure that the needs of four dogs and four cats for which they were responsible, were met to the extent required by good practice.
Sentencing | two-year custodial suspended for 18 months. 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement; 300 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping pets indefinitely.
CONVICTED (2023) | Chelsea Jade Ellis, born 15 March 1996, of Burrfield Drive, Orpington – repeatedly left her dogs alone for up to four days.
Mother-of-four Ellis was prosecuted in relation to chihuahua Rolo and crossbreed Sleigh.
The dogs were left on their own for days at a time with empty food and water bowls.
Rolo (left) and Sleigh became thin and severely neglected after their owner failed to care for them
When the dogs were eventually confiscated, Rolo’s body condition was rated at one out of nine – the lowest score possible – as he was extremely thin, while Sleigh was assessed as two out of nine.
RSPCA prosecutor Andrew Wiles said: “Following information received by the RSPCA of dogs being left alone at Ms Ellis’ property an attendance was made on October 15. Dogs were heard there but nobody was present.
“Ms Ellis was spoken to on the phone. She said she did go out for long periods but she would be back that evening.”
Little Sleigh’s body condition was assessed at 2 out of 9. Happily he and Rolo have gained weight in the RSPCA’s care
The RSPCA officer put a seal on the door to see when it was opened. When they returned the following day the seal was still intact, indicating that Ellis had not been home.
“The RSPCA officer attending was able to look inside the property through the window and there were two dogs but there was no food or water for them. Four dog bowls were on the floor but they were all empty,” Mr Wiles said.
“The officer put dog biscuits through an open window. The dogs rushed to the biscuit and ate them quite ferociously.”
On October 30 officers attended again. They found nobody at home and no food was seen through the window.
The officer spoke to Ellis on the phone to tell her that arrangements needed to made for the dogs to be cared for.
The seals were unbroken when they were checked again on November 1 and November 2, and there was still no food for the dogs.
Police attended on November 2 and the dogs were seized and taken into RSPCA care.
A vet noted that both dogs were extremely thin and estimated that they had been suffering due to malnutrition, weight loss and general poor condition for two to three months.
When interviewed about the dogs Ellis repeatedly changed her story. In her first interview she admitted that she was responsible for the two dogs and that nobody was looking after the dogs between October 30 and November 2. She said that four days was the longest they had been left alone.
She later phoned the RSPCA inspector and said she lied in the interview, and that Sleigh actually belonged to a friend called Danielle. She said she had been looking after Sleigh for a while and her mum had been feeding the dogs while she was away.
Ellis was subsequently invited to another interview, during which she confessed that she had lied again. She said Danielle was not real and that she had just been in “a real state” as her children had been taken into care.
Ellis’s solicitor told the court she was suffering enormous stress at the time of the offences.
Since coming into RSPCA care Rolo’s weight has increased by 60%, while Sleigh’s weight has increased by 28%.
Sentencing | 120 hours of unpaid work; £1,000 in costs to the RSPCA. Deprivation order on Rolo and Sleigh since Ellis had refused to relinquish them voluntarily. Banned from keeping pets for five years, but can apply to have this set aside in three years (expires June 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Adrian Tucker, born c. 1970, of 54A Vallis Way, Frome BA11 3BE – choked his partner’s dog during domestic violence attack.
Adrian Tucker: animal abuser and woman beater
Tucker, who was said to be heavily intoxicated, became agitated and accused his partner of cheating on him. After threatening to kill the woman, he placed both his hands around her neck and started to strangle her before smashing her head against a wall and punching her on the nose.
He then apologised – asking her and her daughter to kill him – before he left her Henbury home and grabbed her Jack Russell Terrier dog around the neck until he was shaking.
Tucker pleaded guilty to strangulation and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Matthew Comer, defending, said the offence arose from alcohol misuse and his client had abstained from alcohol since.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Alexander Thomas Wilson, born 24 July 1990, of 47 Cranbourne Drive, Otterbourne, Winchester SO21 2ES – for the abandonment of four Presa Canario dogs found starved to death at his former home
Banned for life: Alex Wilson was convicted of cruelty to four Presa Canario-type dogs
Wilson, professional Thai boxer and founder/head coach at fitness centre Gorilla Muay Thai based in Shirley, Southampton, pleaded guilty to failing to adequately investigate or address signs of ill health in the dogs named Bonnie, Bully, Narla and Cleo, all of whom were found dead. The signs were loss of appetite, weight loss and excessive thirst..
Father-of-one Wilson also admitted failing to keep Narla and Cleo in a suitable living environment.
The RSPCA was contacted after the bodies of the four dogs, who are all believed to have come from the same litter. were discovered at an address in Wimpson Lane, Millbrook, Southampton.
Wilson with Bonnie, one of the four dogs found starved to death
Inside the conservatory was a dog crate containing the skeletal remains of Bonnie. She was partially concealed with a dog bed and appeared to have been half wrapped in a black bin bag. There were no bowls inside the crate.
Within one of the makeshift dog enclosures, were the skeletal remains of Bully, who was found inside the pen was a deep layer of wood shavings but no bowls.
Within another enclosure were the skeletal remains of two more dogs, Narla and Cleo. The enclosure contained an empty bowl and lots of faeces. The sides of the enclosure were damaged and appeared to have been chewed. Rat burrows were also observed within the enclosure.
The court heard that Wilson had decided to breed dogs which resulted in a large litter of 14 puppies but found himself in a position where not able to re-home dogs as quickly as he would have liked during lockdown.
He later took on another dog which bred with another of his dogs, resulting in another litter of ten dogs.
Wilson was said to have found himself in a situation where he was unable to cope and did not seek help or support.
He claimed the four dogs found dead inside the empty property were off their food and drinking more water than normal in the two days prior to their deaths, as well as stating he always provided the dogs with food and water.
A veterinary expert who examined the evidence said that the findings are not consistent with the dogs having been provided with water at the time of death. They also said it would not b expected that the dogs would be visibly losing weight after just two days off their food.
The vet report also highlighted how Narla and Cleo were found deceased within an environment containing a large number of faeces deposits, indicating the dogs were exposed to an unhygienic environment before and at the time of death. The vet said that the single empty stainless steel bowl found within the pen suggests they did not have access to drinking water at the time of death.
RSPCA inspector Patrick Bailey, who investigated for the charity, said after the hearing: “Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets. It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met.”
The offences took place between January 1 and April 6 2022 at a property in Wimpson Lane, Millbrook, Southampton SO16.
Sentencing | 16 weeks in jail suspended for 18 months; 300 hours of unpaid work over12 months; victim surcharge of £128. Prosecution costs of £17,570.08 to be paid from central funds. Lifetime ban on keeping animals suspended for 28 days to allow remaining animals to be rehomed.
Alex Wilson decided to start breeding dogs during lockdown, seeing it as a quick and easy way to make money. His first litter came from Presa Canario dogs GG and Boyka, who are pictured below. Note the cropped ears on Boyka:
This produced 12 puppies, of which two were still-born. Wilson advertised the surviving puppies online for up to £3,000 each, but there was little interest even after he dropped the price to around £1,500.
Ultimately two were sold, with the other eight dogs remaining with Wilson in makeshift kennels set up in his garden. One puppy died from leptospirosis, which is contracted from the urine of infected rats, with the others also having to be treated, courtesy of the PDSA, for this life-threatening condition.
The surviving puppies were named Bully, Narla, Cleo, Bonnie plus Thor, Tiger and Major.
The latter three were put to sleep after developing behavioural issues, with the other four ultimately succumbing to starvation after being abandoned.
Wilson then decided to breed again, this time from Presa Canario Boyka and a Staffy/pitbull cross named Kiki. This produced a litter of 10 puppies, all of which were sold.
Kiki was found locked in a small crate with no food or water
At this stage Wilson had seven dogs remaining in his care: Boyka, GG, Kiki plus Bully, Narla, Cleo and Bonnie. The latter four are now dead following their abandonment with the first three remaining with Wilson and due to be rehomed following his ban on keeping animals. At the time of writing (27 June 2023) we have heard that Boyka has also now been put to sleep but don’t know the reasons for that.
Wilson’s family (notably one of his two sisters) claimed online in his defence that he developed a life-threatening condition which required him to be hospitalised. They said he had to have eight operations and contracted sepsis. They claim that the four dogs died while he was in hospital, but it has been alleged by more than one source that they were already dead before he fell ill.
One source told us: “I looked after one of his dogs [Kiki] when he went into hospital. She was found in a small crate covered in her own mess and was very thin with urine burns.
Alex asked me to have her for a while. He’d told me she’d had the run of the house now that the other dogs weren’t there (this was before they found the bodies). He’d lied. This little girl was left in a tiny crate with no food or water. She was traumatised when I got her.
“She went to Alex’s dad as she was still owned by Alex and he wouldn’t release her. I’d found a rescue willing to take her but he wouldn’t sign her to me.
“I worry what will become of her and the other two he still has.”
CONVICTED (2023) | David Lee, born c. 1983, of Roker Avenue, Roker, Sunderland SR6 0HP – carried out a bizarre sexual act on a baby herring gull.
David Lee carried out a bizarre sex act on a baby herring gull. It’s known if the bird survived
Sexual deviant David Lee was seen near Gladstone Street, Sunderland, at around 1am on August 18 2022, chasing a gull down the road, with a second piece of footage showing him chasing the same bird down the road again.
Finally, in a third piece of footage, Lee emerges holding a smaller bird.
He could then be seen putting the bird between his legs, before masturbating while watching pornography on his phone.
When he had finished, Lee put the gull down, kicked it away and walked off in the opposite direction.
Lee was arrested at a nearby takeaway and told police he picked up the gull because he thought it was hurt and was looking on his phone to find out what he should do. But instead of searching for a vet’s phone number, as he claimed to have done, police checks revealed Lee had actually been looking at animal porn, the court was told.
Lee, who is originally from Washington, Tyne and Wear, but lives in the city, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the bird.
Annalisa Moscardini, mitigating, said Lee was a heavy drinker who experienced blackouts.
“He accepts he must have done this act but he didn’t have a good recollection of it,” she said in explanation of his initial denials.
“To some extent he cannot explain what happened.”
A psychiatric report found he suffered from an unstable personality disorder and was detached from reality. He was also a pathological liar whose lies served no purpose.
Lee, who is on benefits, has a criminal record and was given a prison sentence in 2020 for possession of a blade.
Sentencing Lee, Chair of the Bench Angela Thompson said suffering was caused to the young bird and that Lee had consumed alcohol and accessed porn involving animals at the time of the offence – which were aggravating features.
Sentencing | jailed for 24 weeks; £300 costs and £150 surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Welsh farmer Philip Edmund Smith, Cefn Ynysoedd, Llanfaglan, Caernarfon LL54 5RA – for multiple animal welfare offences leading to 32 sheep being euthanised.
Philip Smith, who was convicted of similar offences in 2013, pleaded guilty to animal welfare breaches and for failure to dispose of sheep remains.
Smith subjected animals to unnecessary suffering and failed to take the appropriate and reasonable steps to secure the needs of the flock. This included the need for animals to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The court heard that of the 150 sheep seen by officials on his farm, approximately 75% were found to be severely lame and unable to bear weight on at least one limb. Tragically, 32 had to be euthanised due to the severity of their lameness.
An album of photographs capturing the shocking conditions and unnecessary suffering of the animals was shown to the court.
Officials were horrified by the condition in which animals were found. It was their opinion that the sheep were experiencing unnecessary pain and suffering; and the defendant should have sought veterinary assistance much earlier.
Animal health officers from Gwynedd’s Trading Standards Service and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) veterinary team visited the farm several times during July and August 2021 following an anonymous tip-off by a concerned member of the public reporting lame sheep on land at Cefn Ynysoedd.
During the investigation officers from Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Service were subjected to threatening and abusive behaviour by Smith.
During the initial inspection a collapsed ram was discovered in one farm building. He was severely lame with foot-rot, had severe chronic skin lesions and inflammation of the larynx that would have caused a degree of difficulty breathing. It was the veterinary officer’s opinion that the ram was suffering unnecessarily and needed to be euthanised to prevent any further suffering.
A post-mortem examination carried out on the ram indicated that the skin lesions were likely to have been present for several months and concluded that there was no evidence of paring of the feet to remove the overgrown horn.
Several other sheep were found to be suffering with irreversible foot lesions caused by conditions that may have been treatable had they been identified and treated sooner. Several of the sheep were also suffering from fly strike and had live maggots in their feet.
Sentencing | concurrent suspended prison terms of 26 weeks for the six section 4 Animal Welfare Act offences and 12 weeks for the two section 9 Animal Welfare offences. 20-hour rehabilitation course. Fined £400 for the six Animal By-Product Regulation offences and ordered to pay £4,475 in costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Disqualified from owning, keeping, transporting or dealing in farmed animals for five years (expires June 2028).
The 18-week-old shepherd cross, named Fatty, was howling in agony after suffering a broken leg but Kildare refused to take him to a vet for treatment. The puppy was also hungry and thirsty.
Fiscal depute Ellen Barr told Banff Sheriff Court that the puppy was hit by a car on February 1 2021.
Fatty was left in immense pain for at least two hours without veterinary treatment
A witness contacted the SSPCA at 6.05pm to share their fear that Kildare wasn’t going to take his dog for medical treatment.
When an officer from the charity visited Kildare’s home, they were allowed in.
While there, the officer received a second call expressing concern for the same puppy.
“This caller reported that she heard what she describes as a ‘horrendous scream’ coming from the street and that she knew from the sounds it was being made by a dog,” Ms Barr said.
“She went out of her house and saw the accused carrying a puppy. He was also holding a tin of beer, a bag of shopping and appeared to be trying to light a cigarette.
“She offered to take the accused and the dog to the vet but he declined this offer.”
Kildare did, however, agree to bring the dog to the woman’s porch so they could inspect his injuries under the light.
“He held it under the light and said it looked fine,” the court heard.
“The witness pressed the matter and suggested the dog should be seen by a vet – but the accused said no.
“She described the puppy as lying dazed in his arms.”
SSPCA officers said they found the puppy lying on the sofa and it was “immediately obvious that the dog was badly injured”.
Fatty’s fractured and bloodied right leg was swollen to double the size of his left leg, with broken nails and scratches to the pads of his feet. The injuries were all consistent with being hit by a car..
The dog was “subdued as though in shock” and when Kildare touched his leg he “howled in pain”.
At 8pm, Kildare also lied to officers and said the accident had happened only an hour before – despite the witness confirming it occurred at 5.40pm.
The charity said that his failure to seek treatment had left the dog in pain for at least two hours and had left the puppy with injuries that will haunt them for life.
Kildare told them he “couldn’t afford” to take the puppy to the vet and remained “indecisive and unclear” about giving the SSPCA permission to do it for him.
But after being told they didn’t need his permission, the dog was seized and taken to a vet in Fraserburgh and given surgery that night.
“The puppy’s pain score was rated 4 out of 5 and the dog couldn’t bear any weight on his right leg,” the fiscal added.
“Methadone was given through an IV drip and anti-inflammatory drugs were used. The dog was extremely hungry and thirsty too.”
X-rays confirmed that Fatty’s right leg had become fractured and Kildare eventually signed the dog into the SSPCA’s care.
In court, he pleaded guilty to one charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
Kildare’s lawyer told the court his client was “a talented head chef” but turned to substance abuse.
The solicitor said that Fatty’s mother remains in Kildare’s ownership and there were no concerns about her care.
However, she is currently living with a friend while Kildare serves a prison sentence until at least August 2024.
Sheriff Robert McDonald told Kildare: “I am satisfied this is not necessarily a case of you persistently neglecting an animal but more that you didn’t recognise that it needed veterinary treatment – whether you could afford it or not”.
He fined Kildare, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, £790 but accepted he couldn’t pay it.
Instead, Kildare was given the alternative of 28 days’ imprisonment – to run concurrently with his current sentence for a violent offence, meaning he won’t spend any extra time in jail.
Speaking about the investigation and sentencing Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona Mckenzie said:
“Fatty should have been seen by a vet immediately after incident. Kildare’s failure to seek veterinary treatment for Fatty undoubtedly caused this young puppy immense suffering.
“Although we’re glad that Kildare has received a fine we would have liked him to receive a ban on keeping animals due to the disregard he showed for Fatty’s well-being in this case.
“We hope he seriously reconsiders his ability to care for any animal in future.”
Non prosecution case (2023) | Harry Nathaniel Dunn, born January 1995, of 35 Cotton Lane, Halton Lodge Runcorn WA7 5NB – starved a 12-month-old puppy to within days of death.
Credit: Warrington Animal Welfare
In 2022, pet rescue Warrington Animal Welfare [WAW] were called by a concerned landlord to report a puppy he had seen in a property he was renting out to professional dog walker and part-time musician Harry Dunn.
WAW visited the property and found three dogs: two adult lurchers of normal weight and a third called Otis, who was skeletal.
Dunn told WAW that Otis had been to the vets but this turned out to be a lie. The rescue later discovered that Dunn had been visited by the RSPCA two weeks earlier and issued with an improvement notice in relation to Otis’s condition.
WAW took Otis to their vet for immediate assessment, during which it was discovered he had open pressure sores on his legs caused by being kept in a dog crate soaked with own urine. The puppy weighed just 4.5kgs, and was days away from dying.
Dunn initially refused to sign over Otis to WAW but was eventually persuaded that it was in the puppy’s best interests to relinquish him.
Further enquiries by WAW determined that Dunn had fed his other two dogs while leaving Otis to slowly starve in his own filth.
While it initially seemed that the RSPCA would prosecute Dunn based on the evidence obtained by WAW, ultimately the charity let him off with a caution.
Dunn is an aspiring musician and performs under the name Harry Nathaniel
WAW took to their Facebook page to express their disappointment and anger with the outcome.
Otis remains with WAW and is making good progress in the rescue’s care and with the proper veterinary treatment.
