Consett, County Durham: Christopher Smith

September 21, 2023 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Christopher Smith, known as Chrissy Smith, born 30 September 1990, of Rutland Place, Consett DH8 8EE – filmed subjecting a seven-month-old puppy to a five-minute beating.

Violent dog abuser Christopher Smith from Consett, County Durham. Picture: Facebook

Smith claimed he was drunk when he carried out the five-minute attack on the young pocket bully-type dog, Lazarus, who was seen cowering and trying to pull away.

Smith was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the charity was sent a video of the incident which had been filmed by distressed members of the public on a mobile phone in March 2023.

In court, Smith admitted inflicting blunt force trauma on the dog.

In the upsetting footage, the puppy is seen trying to pull away and cowers down before Smith lifts his arms and heavily hits the dog on the back and shoulders with an unknown object.

As the dog continues to try to get away, a loud slapping noise – inflicted with some force – can be heard from where the incident is being filmed.

Following an investigation, Smith was visited at his home on April 4 by RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws.

Pocket bully puppy Lazarus endured a 5-minute beating by Consett man Christopher Smith. Image: RSPCA

In her evidence to the court Inspector Keogh-Laws said Smith told her he had been drunk and lost his temper.

She continued: “The dog was friendly and boisterous around me but appeared to be hand shy of Christopher Smith. He confirmed he owned Lazarus and that he had not seen a vet since the incident or while in his care at all.”

Smith gave permission for the inspector to take Lazarus to be examined by a vet. He was also advised to remove hazardous items from his kitchen and stairs, but declined to voluntarily sign the dog over into the care of the RSPCA.

The video was shown to a vet who examined Lazarus later that day. He said it was his opinion that the puppy had been caused to suffer as a result of the attack, and he was taken into police possession under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The puppy was put on pain relief for three days, but thankfully appeared to have no long-term injuries.

In his statement to the court, the vet said: “In my opinion Lazarus had been caused to suffer by the mechanism of injury due to physical attack during the period caught on camera (approximately five minutes).

“The need for protection from pain, suffering and injury was not met by the intentional attack by the owner whilst under his care.

“The suffering was avoidable had the owner treated his dog with care and kindness as required. The suffering was moderately intense, and if the area of contact was a more vulnerable area, for example his face, the damage could have been life threatening from this type of weapon and level of force.

“The fear experienced at the time of the attack would impact his feeling of safety and a stress free existence in the future if he remained with the owner.”

Speaking after the conclusion of the case, inspector Keogh-Laws, said: “Smith inflicted appalling and totally unnecessary violence on this young dog.

“Members of the public were equally concerned by what they witnessed and we’d like to thank them for providing us with the footage which has ensured Smith has been held to account for his actions.”

Lazarus is still in RSPCA care, he is doing well and will be rehomed by the charity.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation; £80 fine. Banned from keeping dogs for five years but can appeal after just two years (expires September 2028).

Northern Echo

animal fighting / baiting, Birds, cockfighting, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Organised Animal Crime, Traveller Animal Crimes, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Clayton, City of Bradford: Douglas Price

September 19, 2023 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | cock-fighter Douglas Rufus Price, born 22 May 1984, of Valley Farm, Low Lane, Clayton, Bradford BD14 6QA – kept 22 underweight hens and cockerels in makeshift pens without food and water and suffering from fighting injuries.

Bradford farmer Douglas Price aka Dougieboy Price was convicted of animal neglect and cockfighting offences

West Yorkshire Police and the RSPCA attended the working farm in February 2022 and found the birds in makeshift pens, many without food and water. Some were suffering from feather-loss and injuries consistent with fighting.

Seized mobile phone footage later revealed that Price was keeping and training the birds to fight.

The RSPCA found a number of underweight hens and cockerels kept in pens without food and water and suffering from fighting injuries.

RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby, who investigated for the animal charity, said: “All of the birds at the site appeared to be underweight with feather loss on their chest and the majority of them were bald in this area.

“On closer observation, a number of the cockerels had injuries and all appeared to have had their combs cut.

“There was a limited amount of food and water provided in each pen and some had no provisions at all.

“Inside one of the wooden pens there was a hen which was unable to bear weight on one of her legs.

“Inside the metal pen there was a cockerel which was limping and had a swollen leg and inside a shed there was another hen which was also limping.

“Due to the number of animal welfare concerns, I contacted a vet immediately who confirmed to me that a number of these birds would have been suffering.”

The vet found that a total of 14 hens and cockerels were in a state of neglect and some had been caused unnecessary suffering.

One dead cockerel was located at the scene, and sadly three birds were subsequently put to sleep on the advice of the vet to end their suffering.

Ian Muttitt, chief inspector for the RSPCA’s special operations unit (SOU), said: “I have investigated cockfighting offences for a number of years and reviewed hours of footage relating to this crime and it was very clear to me that several sequences of the footage obtained from Price’s mobile phone depicted cockfight sparring sessions.

“It was clear to me that the person responsible for these birds has an unhealthy interest in cockfighting and was keeping and training these birds for the purpose of animal fighting.”

Seized mobile phone footage later revealed that Price, who has links to the travelling community, was keeping and training birds to fight

In mitigation, the court heard that Price is illiterate, with no formal education, and is also the sole carer for his children and grandchildren.

The surviving birds were taken into the RSPCA’s care and were subsequently rehomed.

Sentencing | nine-month custodial suspended for 18 months; 20 rehabilitation activity days; 100 hours of unpaid work; £128 victim surcharge and £400 in costs. Disqualified from keeping hens and cockerels for 12 months (expires September 2024).

YorkshireLive
Yorkshire Press

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

New Romney, Kent: Kelly Jones

September 18, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Kelly Jones, born c. 1967, of Station Road, New Romney TN28 – strangled a 15-year-old dog to death.

Dog killer Kelly Jones - a drug addict and career criminal from New Romney, Kent

Jones, an ex-soldier who served in the Falklands War, punched, kicked and stamped on 66-year-old drug addict Martin Marsh, before turning his attention to his elderly pet dog, known as Jack-Jack.

The two men had only known each other for a week when Jones turned up shouting outside Mr Marsh’s home at Pavilion Court in Marine Terrace, Folkestone late at night on April 14, 2023.

Both were said to be heavy users of class A drugs and “acrimonious, aggressive and abusive” with each other at the time of the incident.

Mr Marsh could not afford electricity at his bedsit and, once Jones was inside, a row broke out when he complained about the state of the property, said prosecutor Caroline Knight.

“The defendant punched Mr Marsh in the face and that blow sent him to the floor,” she told the court.

“The attack continued with Mr Marsh being kicked and punched and stamped on his head, he thinks, for around 10 to 15 minutes.

“The defendant also put his fingers and thumbs into Mr Marsh’s eyes, causing him to suffer very serious pain and to think he may end up blind.

“He describes being in fear for his life and screaming for help.”

Jones eventually fell asleep on a sofa and, on waking the next morning, apologised.

But the court heard the ex-serviceman then turned his attention to Marsh’s elderly dog, who was said to be very thin and possibly malnourished.

Ms Knight continued: “The defendant told Mr Marsh he should have the dog put down. When Mr Marsh refused, the defendant took it into the bathroom, put a cord around its neck and strangled him to death.”

Marsh fled to a neighbour and police were called.

Officers found Jones hiding in the kitchen where he said: “I’ll admit to what I’ve done and I would do it again”.

In interview he claimed to have he acted in self-defence and “assisted” Marsh in killing Jack-Jack, said Ms Knight.

Jones, who has 33 previous convictions for 63 offences, later admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Sarah Thorne, defending, urged the court to show Jones “some mercy”, saying he accepted he had behaved “appallingly”.

She said that as well as battling a long-term addiction to drugs and alcohol, he also suffered from mental health problems, including a diagnosis of bipolar, and more recently been told he has bowel cancer.

Passing sentence, Recorder Michael Turner condemned Jones for his “prolonged and persistent” attack on “hopeless heroin addict” Marsh.

Of the killing of Jack-Jack, Recorder Turner continued: “I am prepared to accept this was a gross lapse of judgement on your part, fuelled by your drug addiction and your addled brain at the time.

“But your use of a ligature is an aggravating feature as it is effectively the use of a weapon. You used that to strangle this poor, malnourished, elderly animal to death.

“You killed it. You didn’t just harm it… you inflicted upon it the ultimate penalty for no good reason.”

At the time of the incident, the offence of animal cruelty carried a maximum jail term of six months, but new legislation introduced in July has increased that penalty to five years.

Recorder Turner told Jones he was therefore “fortunate” he had committed the crime three months before the law change.

The judge added he hoped Jones continued with the progress made while in prison on remand, and that he would receive “good news” regarding his cancer.

Sentencing | jailed for 27 months for the assault on Mr Marsh, and handed a concurrent prison term of 19 weeks for killing the pet.
He was also given a three-year restraining order.

Kent Online
Mirror

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Lifers, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers, Small Furries, Worst of the Worst

Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester: Amy Youll

September 15, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Amy Elizabeth Youll, born 17 February 1992, of Shadowmoss Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 – let nine of her pets live in ‘disgusting squalor’ and left the bodies of five dogs decomposing in the back yard.

Serial animal hoarder and abuser Amy Youll now of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester. Picture: Facebook

RSPCA officers had to wear face masks to combat the overwhelming smell of rubbish and faeces at a house in Todmorden Road, Bacup, Lancashire, where Youll was living with eight starving dogs and a cat.

The property was so full of waste and debris there were maggots crawling on surfaces in the kitchen, limited space to walk, and rooms so full of junk they were completely inaccessible.

Amy Youll, a serial animal abuser and hoarder from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, kept multiple pets in disgusting squalor.

A cat and eight dogs – a mixture of terriers and crossbreeds who were all matted and underweight – were rescued from the house by the RSPCA. Some were so frightened that they had to be carried out to waiting vehicles.

Severed remains of cat carcasses and five badly decomposing dogs were later found by contractors who had been called in to clean up the squalid property.

Following a prosecution by the RSPCA, Youll was banned from keeping all animals indefinitely. She was also handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence.

Amy Youll, a serial animal abuser and hoarder from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, kept multiple starving pets in disgusting squalor.

Youll, who is a previous offender, had denied three animal welfare offences but was found guilty at a trial in her absence last October 2022.

Magistrates heard how RSPCA inspectors found the eight dogs and a cat running loose in the house on September 18, 2021.

The decomposing remains of a pet rodent were also found in a cage in an upstairs bedroom.

In his evidence to the court, one of the officers, inspector Will Lamping, said: “The property was awful, with rubbish and debris strewn throughout. I struggled to walk through the house as there was waste and rubbish everywhere.

“There were old dog faeces over all the floors and surfaces, including the kitchen worktops. In some areas, particularly the upstairs landing and stairs, the faeces was so thick that it covered the entire floor, forcing the person to have to walk across it.

“The smell of urine and rubbish in the house was terrible and at many times overpowering. On a table in one room I found a large number of maggots. I could not see any food, water or clean rest area provided anywhere in the house for the animals.”

All the dogs were anaemic and extremely thin with their spines, hips and ribs protruding. They smelt strongly of urine and faeces, which was matted in the fur, pads and long, overgrown claws of many of them.

Live fleas were visible, including on a black and white cat called Mortimer, and several of the dogs were scared and needed to be carried to the RSPCA inspectors’ vans. There was no fresh drinking water for any of them in the property.

A vet who examined the animals gave six of them a body score condition of no more than 1 or 1.5 out of 5. He said it was reasonable to conclude, in the absence of any underlying medical condition, that they had all been starved and left to suffer.

The smell of ammonia was also present due to the faeces and contaminated floor surfaces which likely caused the animals to experience distress from which they could not escape.

It is believed the animals suffered for a period of at least three days, if not longer.

The vet said Youll had also failed to meet the needs of the animals by not providing them with a suitable diet and that in the case of six of the dogs, this had been for a ‘prolonged period’ of time.

All nine animals went on to make a full recovery thanks to the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk and District branch, which rehomed them from its animal centre in New Cut Lane, Southport.

However, things didn’t end there as on September 30 2021 the RSPCA was contacted again after private contractors who had been called in to clean up the house, found the badly rotting carcasses of five small to medium-sized dogs in an outside area at the back, as well as severed parts of the remains of ‘many’ cats inside.

The dogs had been placed in carrier bags, boxes and planters and were heavily infested with maggots. Skulls, jaws and teeth were visible, but such was the state of decomposition, it was not possible to tell how the animals had died.

RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher, who saw the remains, said: “The scene was highly distressing to view and I would have to say one of the worst things I have visited within my 20 years of working with the RSPCA.

“The smell in the area was extremely strong and could be tasted on the throat.

“I instantly recognised the smell of decaying carcasses. I was advised that each of the bodies were exactly as they were found, contained within a bag, box or planter, but that each of them had been found piled under the rubbish and debris.”

The court heard in mitigation that Youll suffered from poor mental health and struggled to look after herself, let alone her pets.

RSPCA chief inspector Nina Small, who led the investigation, said: “The conditions these animals had to endure were some of the worst I’ve seen in my 20-year career and I believe they would have died had they not been found in time.

“The disgusting squalor and the level of suffering and neglect was inexcusable.

“Staff and volunteers at our branch-run animal centre in Southport did a fantastic job to rehabilitate and rehome them all, especially as many of the dogs were nervous when they were rescued from the house. Myself and all my colleagues who were involved in this case are over the moon that they’re now enjoying their lives in loving new homes.”

Another defendant in the case was sentenced in November 2022 (name not reported) after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences and was banned from keeping all animals for eight years.

Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 24 months; 25 rehabilitation activity days, Indefinite ban applicable to all animals.

Lancashire Telegraph
RSPCA News
Manchester Evening News

animal fighting / baiting, dog fighting, Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Serial Animal Abusers, Snaring and Trapping, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Dufftown, Moray: David Scott

September 15, 2023 misanthropic 7 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | former head gamekeeper David John Scott, born c. 1989, of Bridgehaugh, Dufftown, Keith AB55 4DS – kept 14 dogs in appalling conditions at the home he shared with wife Gillian Elizabeth Scott.

Dufftown man David Scott, a former gamekeeper, admitted neglecting 14 dogs with additional charges relating to dog fighting and setting a dog on a snared fox were dropped — David Scott, a former gamekeeper, admitted neglecting 14 dogs with additional charges relating to dog fighting and setting a dog on a snared fox were dropped. Photo credit: Press & Journal

Scott admitted a catalogue of animal welfare offences in relation to 14 neglected dogs.

The Crown accepted a not guilty plea from his wife, Gillian Scott.

The court heard Scott had been head gamekeeper at Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estates until the raid on his home in September 2022.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke said the Scottish SPCA’s special investigation unit had received a tip-off about the welfare of animals being kept by the Scotts during August 2022 and attended the scene with police.

Wife Gillian Scott escaped punishment after her not guilty plea was accepted by the court. Picture: Facebook — Wife Gillian Scott escaped punishment after her not guilty plea was accepted by the court

There they found three “wet, extremely dirty” and “totally unacceptable” kennel blocks, each without any sleeping areas for the dogs.

Ms Poke said: “There was a strong smell of faeces and urine abundant throughout the kennels,

“There were no dry areas for the dogs to lie down and no evidence of any dog food.”

The officers found a barrel full of rotten meat and fish it was suggested this is what the dogs were being fed.

All 14 dogs were removed to the care of the SSPCA and were said to have been “suffering and in distress”.

Scott admitted causing unnecessary suffering and pain to dogs by not seeking veterinary treatment or providing them with essential care.

David Scott, a former gamekeeper, admitted neglecting 14 dogs with additional charges relating to dog fighting and setting a dog on a snared fox were dropped. Photo credit: Press & Journal — Photo credit: Press & Journal

As part of a plea bargain, a not guilty plea to a charge that Scott trained a male black and tan dog called Boysie to fight and supplied videos of his brawls was accepted by the Crown.

The dog-fights were said to have taken place at the home address.

Another offence, whilst at Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estate on July 13 2022, of snaring a fox and letting his dog attack it, was also dropped.

The 14 neglected dogs included:

Ellie, a female harrier-type dog, who suffered an ear mite infection for weeks without getting treatment.
Babatoots, a female spaniel who also had infected ears and gums for weeks without medical help.
Toots, another female spaniel who suffered from infections of the ears and gums.
Sadie, a female spaniel who had chronic ear infections and conjunctivitis.

Defence counsel Callum Anderson said the couple had been going through a “difficult period” in their lives at the time of the police raid.
He said Scott had accepted the conditions were “awful” and said the kennels had become so wet due to a “torrential storm” the night before.

Mr Anderson said Mrs Scott still owns two dogs as family pets and said the lapse was due to “dramatic circumstances”, including the death of her father and a medical issue around the date of the offences.

“They accept they were not dealing with matters at that time. That is the reason why veterinary treatment was neglected,” he said.

Scott had lost his position as head gamekeeper after the raid and had been “demoted sideways”, whilst still earning a salary of £40,000 plus accommodation worth £15,000 per annum.

“He recognises it was not acceptable and lessons have been learned,” Mr Anderson said.

On sentencing, Sheriff Robert McDonald said Scott had “failed to keep a grip” on his animals, adding: “No matter how bad your life is, your animals still need looking after.

“The dogs don’t care. If things are tough, you should make arrangements for them.

“I am conscious of your employment and that you may be around dogs when out on a shoot. I have the power to impose a custodial sentence or a £20,000 fine.

“However, I have taken this into account and take a serious view and will impose a fine.”

Sentencing | fined £1,275. Banned from owning more than two dogs for just three years (expires September 2026).

Press & Journal

Dogs

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear: Michael Walker

September 15, 2023 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Michael Walker, born 18 December 1966, of Cranesville, Gateshead NE9 6SP – left his dog to suffer from a painful skin condition.

Convicted animal abuser Michael Walker from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, UK. Picture: Facebook

Shih Tzu/Jack Russell crossbreed Gizmo was found covered in crusty skin and scabs with large areas of his body completely devoid of fur after Michael Walker failed to provide the treatment that had been prescribed for him.

Walker admitted causing Gizmo unnecessary suffering and was disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.

Gizmo was neglected by Michael Walker from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, UK. but has now recovered. Picture: RSPCA / ChronicleLive

The court heard how RSPCA inspector Lucy Green had made a follow up visit to Walker’s house on 10 January, 2023, after officers had previously advised him to clean up his pet’s living environment and get his skin seen by a vet.

“Gizmo’s nails were very overgrown and curling under his paws and over each other,” said inspector Green. “He had a lot of fur loss from his neck down his chin, back and legs, and his skin was crusty and scabby.

“He was on the windowsill in one of the rooms so I could see him from outside of the house. His skin looked significantly worse than the previous visit. I was told he had been scratching his back on some sharp metal under the bed and maybe that was why his skin was like it was.

“I was told he had been taken to the PDSA and I was shown a bottle of almost full shampoo and a bottle of prednisolone dated 14 November 2022 with approximately ten tablets left in the bottle.

“I rang the PDSA who informed me that the only time they had seen Gizmo was on that date and the medication should have run out around Christmas.”

Walker agreed for Gizmo to be taken and seen by a vet, and he was transported to a practice in North Tyneside later that day by the RSPCA.

*Gizmo had overgrown nails in addition to extensive fur loss*

An examination showed he had generalised dermatitis, a fractured lower left canine and acute diarrhoea. He was also given a body condition score of 2-3 out of 9, which a vet said was likely indicative of the fact he had not been given a suitable diet for at least six months.

In his evidence to the court, the vet who examined the dog, said: “Based on my professional opinion, it is unlikely that Gizmo was provided with a suitable environment or given a suitable diet to meet his needs. It is obvious he was given little protection from pain, suffering or disease. This suffering was avoidable.”

The court heard that Walker told the inspector he “sometimes forgot” to give Gizmo his medication. He stated he didn’t know what amount to give him, and as he didn’t want to overdose the dog, he hadn’t been following the vet’s advice.

He had previously told an RSPCA officer that he had been verbally told by a vet that Gizmo’s health issues may have been caused by mites or a grass allergy.

On another occasion a veterinary appointment was cancelled as the entire household comprising Walker, his wife Lisa Walker and two adult children had reportedly been struck down with flu.

Speaking after the case, inspector Green said: “Gizmo is a really sweet natured little dog who has really come out of his shell in his foster home.

“He looks unrecognisable now, and I’m really happy that he already has a lovely new home lined up.

“This case illustrates how important it is to get timely veterinary intervention, to follow the advice you are given, and to seek help from your vet if you have concerns or your pet’s condition is not improving.”

Sentencing costs of £180 and a victim surcharge of £80. Five-year disqualification order on keeping dogs (expires September 2028).

ChronicleLive
ITV News

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Hucknall, Nottingham: Adrian and Debbie Hawkins

September 14, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Adrian Hawkins, born c. 1965, and Debbie Hawkins, born c.1966, of Westland Avenue, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 6FW – failed to provide veterinary treatment for their elderly dog.

Nottingham woman Debbie Hawkins left her dog in agony with an untreated facial tumour for months — Debbie Hawkins left her dog in agony with an untreated facial tumour for months

Adrian and Debbie Hawkins pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a male terrier called Archie when they appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 23, 2023.

The pair neglected to provide veterinary treatment for an ulcerated discharging tumour, which affected the little dog’s muzzle and led to him suffering pain between December 2022 and February 2023.

Nottingham couple Debbie and Adrian Hawkins left their dog in agony with an untreated facial tumour for months — The Hawkins’ dog Archie had not been seen by a vet for seven years

The RSPCA was alerted after the 16-year-old pet was taken to a vet to be euthanised. The vet was concerned that the dog’s poor state of health, which included the large tumour and necrotic dental disease, constituted an offence under animal welfare legislation and contacted the charity.

The court heard the owners were “remorseful” for their actions and that their treatment of Archie was due to neglect rather than deliberate cruelty.

Adrian Hawkins claimed he provided Archie with 24-hour care and would bathe his mouth.

‘RSPCA inspector Pamela Bird, who examined the dog’s body, said: “The smell of infection was overwhelming.

“I observed a hole in the right side of Archie’s face which had pus and tissue dripping out of it. The skin was falling off around the nose.

“I opened the dog’s mouth and could clearly see very few, blackened teeth surrounded by smelly infected tissue, oozing pus.

“I felt the dog’s body and I could clearly feel ribs, spine and pelvis protruding sharply. The dog’s facial fur was matted and there was pus in the dog’s eyes.

“All the dog’s claws were long and curled around.

“I immediately took the view that it would be obvious to any reasonable person that this dog was severely underweight with obvious facial infection.”

A vet who examined Archie said they “felt disturbed” when they saw the dog’s condition and this “quickly turned into sadness and frustration”.

The vet added: “I felt that he must have had a prolonged amount of time of suffering before being brought in for euthanasia. His condition both overall and due to the extent and progression of the mass showed neglect.”

They had been told that Archie had not been taken to a vet since 2015.

The vet concluded Archie had been through “prolonged suffering” due to a lack of medical care, suffering pain, nausea, lethargy, discomfort and irritation, having been in poor health for at least six weeks, if not longer.

Speaking about the case, inspector Bird said: “We as pet owners have a responsibility to do the right thing for our animals. Sadly this was not the case for poor Archie.

“A vet said his suffering could have been prevented or managed through routine healthcare at best and as a minimum, by a check-up when the mass grew and burst.

“It would not take any medical or veterinary expertise to see Archie was suffering and should have been taken to a vet sooner.”

Sentencing |
Adrian Hawkins was fined £1,723, ordered to pay a £689 surcharge and costs of £150.
Debbie Hawkins was fined £320, ordered to pay a £128 surcharge and £150 costs.
Both were disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires September 2028).

Nottingham World

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Walton, Liverpool: Jade Jarvis

September 13, 2023 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Jade Jarvis, born c. 1997, of no fixed address but most recently of Ismay Street, Walton, Liverpool L4 4EF – smacked her terrified pet dog in the head during a deranged outburst at a homeless shelter.

American bully cross Hugo appeared petrified as his volatile owner Jade Jarvis took her anger out on him

A staff member at the Whitechapel Centre in Everton, Liverpool, found Jarvis in the foyer of the building, after being alerted to her behaviour by a cleaner. Sarah Holt, prosecuting, described how Jarvis’s American bulldog cross Hugo was reported to have “looked terrified” as Jarvis “shouted and swore” at employees before delivering a “really heavy” slap to the top of the dog’s head.

CCTV footage of the incident, which took place on the morning of April 14, 2023, was played to the court, and showed Jarvis dropping her trousers before throwing a bottle of water down a corridor. She then sits down on a chair and hits out at her pet twice – making contact once – then following this up with a “forceful push” to the ground. Hugo was left “subdued and visibly shaking” as a result of the attack.

Under interview with police, Jarvis denied having harmed the dog and said she “wasn’t happy with staff at the centre because they hadn’t been doing their job”, adding that she was “disgusted by them”.

Appearing from HMP Styal, she left the video link booth while the clip was being played.

Once she had returned, the defendant said: “I just want to know my sentence. I don’t want to sit here and listen to lies.”

In a separate incident in July 2022, which saw police called to Jarvis’s home in Walton, she smashed up a lamppost with a hammer before being hauled into a police van half-naked. Bodycam footage showed Jarvis shouting “paedophile behaviour” as she was escorted to the van. There, she continued “kicking out, shouting and spitting” as she was transported into custody.

Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court: “She is a lady full of frustration and anger. She is somebody who feels she wasn’t being listened to, rightly or wrongly.

“Because of the way in which she communicates and shouts and doesn’t listen, she cannot get her point across in a suitable way. She needs assistance with doing that, because she feels constantly not listened to.

“She is a young lady with mounting previous convictions. The sentences get longer and her frustration builds up.”

Jarvis admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal alongside charges of using threatening behaviour, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, assaulting an emergency services worker and criminal damage.

Sentencing her to a 13-month custodial term, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “You seem incapable or unwilling to contain your rage and frustration with the world. You only have yourself to blame for the position you find yourself in.

“You took out your frustration on your own dog. That dog was terrified and curled up in a ball.

“You have shown no insight into your behaviour. You appear to be willing to show hostility to almost anybody who tries to hold out a hand to help you.”

Liverpool Echo

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Nairn, Highland: Brian Farmer

September 12, 2023 misanthropic 4 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Brian John Farmer, born c. 1999, of 16 Church Street, Nairn IV12 4AP – left a dog to starve to death in an abandoned property.

Brian Farmer's dog chewed anything that was in the house in Church Street in Nairn including a sofa, its foam filling and food tins in a vain battle to survive — Brian Farmer’s dog chewed anything that was in the house in Church Street in Nairn including a sofa, its foam filling and food tins in a vain battle to survive. Photo credit: Press & Journal

Farmer pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an 18-month-old American bully/Staffy crossbreed called Duke by failing to provide him with access to food or water whereby he starved to death. He also admitted abandoning the dog.

Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told the court that industrial cleaners appointed by Highland Council to attend the abandoned property discovered the dog’s skeletal and decomposing remains.

The Scottish SPCA were contacted and arranged to pick up the dog from the locus. SSPCA chief inspector Iain Allan described the scene of horror that confronted the team.

He said: “On entering, the first thing we noticed was the terrible state of the property, which was filthy with a strong, foul-smelling odour.

“There was a lot of rubbish covering the floor consisting of empty food packets, empty chewed food tins, chewed foam from the sofa and dog faeces. The room was cold as there had been no heating on within the premises for some time.

“We were shocked to see the emaciated body of a large dog in the kitchen/living room area.

“It was obvious from the state of decay of the carcass that the dog had been dead for some time. The dog was lying stretched out on the linoleum floor in front of the chewed up sofa.

“We were able to identify the dog as Duke, a one-and-a-half-year-old American XL bully cross Staffordshire bull terrier type dog.”

Duke’s body was taken for a post mortem where the vet determined the cause of death as severe malnutrition. Weighing just 14 kilograms, his skeleton protruded through his skin and his head was described as appearing too big for his body.

Decomposition suggested he had been dead for several weeks.

Defence solicitor David Patterson said that Duke had been left in his client’s care but claimed he didn’t own the dog.

In mitigation he described Farmer’s life as “challenging” adding that “a lack of education and social development” had caused him to suffer from mental health issues.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Farmer that due to his personal circumstances combined with the fact that he was under 25 and had never been in prison before, he enjoyed the protection of the law if there was an alternative to custody. Instead he imposed a community sentence.

Sentencing | community sentence of 250 hours of unpaid work; two years of social work supervision. Lifetime ban on ever keeping an animal.

Inverness Courier
Press & Journal
Scottish SPCA

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Blackpool, Lancashire: Louise Tucker

September 12, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Louise Tucker, born 27 July 1981, of 13 Butler Street, Blackpool FY1 3BQ – allowed cats and dogs to suffer at her faeces-strewn home.

Louise Tucker kept 11 neglected dogs and cats at her faeces-filled Blackpool house of horrors

Two female cats and nine adult dogs were discovered living in squalor at a home in Butler Street, Blackpool on June 30, 2022. The property was occupied by Louise Tucker and daughter Amy Jackson, born 22 February 2000, who was also charged originally along with Jackson’s boyfriend Christian Dewsnapp, born 8 October 1999, of Taylors Close, Poulton le Fylde FY6 7TT. It’s not known if the charges were dropped against the other two.

RSPCA inspectors said there was so much animal faeces on the floor that officers were unable to freely move around without stepping in it.

In his witness statement, RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: “I couldn’t see any clean place for the dogs to lie as the ground and crates were soiled with faeces, as were the sofa and chairs.

“The room was very dark as the curtains were closed and newspapers had been stuck across the window.

“The smell of ammonia inside the room was overpowering, so much so that it was difficult to breathe at times and I had to take regular breaks outside the room.”

Among the faeces were trays of dog biscuits and red plastic tubs of water. Inspectors said this appeared to be the only food and water source for the dogs, who were being forced to eat and drink next to their own excrement.

There were also two crates in the room, one of which contained no bedding and the other a filthy blanket, as well as a number of physical injury hazards lying around, including sharp-edged tin cans.

Animal abuser Louise Tucker aka Lulu advertised puppies for sale online

Screenshots from a mobile phone showed their owner, Louise Tucker, had also been selling puppies, with one chihuahua cross being advertised for £450.

All 11 animals were seized from Tucker by the police and taken into RSPCA care after the vet certified they were likely to suffer if their circumstances did not change.

On examination, the dogs were all found to have mild conjunctivitis, likely associated with the ammonia present within the living environment.

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bentley was also suffering from a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament of the right leg and an untreated anal mass required further investigation.

The vet said it was his opinion that Tucker had failed to meet the needs of her animals by providing them with a suitable environment.

He added Bentley had suffered unnecessary pain for at least a week due to the defendant’s failure to seek appropriate veterinary advice.

Tucker initially denied causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide the animals with a suitable environment.

She later changed her plea to guilty at a two-day trial in July 2023.Tucker was told she had come “very close to imprisonment”.

In mitigation, the court heard how she had “taken the blame for others” and had rehomed dogs from people who were allegedly not looking after them properly.

She was described as being “kind” to animals and reportedly had a clean house prior to the offences taking place.

Sentencing | 10-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 15 days of rehabilitation activity; costs of £400. Banned from keeping all animals for five years (expires September 2028).

Manchester Evening News
LancsLive

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: September 2023