Animal Sanctuaries from Hell, Birds, Lifers

Caerphilly, South Wales: Carol Gravenor

January 13, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Carol Ann Gravenor, born 2 May 1956, of Coed Main, Caerphilly CF83 1RS – allowed wild birds to suffer at her so-called sanctuary.

Bird rescuer Carol Gravenor kept multiple injured birds in filthy conditions

Gravenor, owner of Caerphilly Bird Rescue, pleaded guilty to six animal welfare offences after 26 wild birds were found in an unsuitable environment with their needs not being met. Many were in a suffering state.

The birds included pigeons, blackbirds, crows, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon and a common buzzard.

These birds were found with numerous ailments and injuries which had not been treated adequately, including fractured wings, damaged eyes and legs, and bumble foot condition.

The environment and bird cages were found to be unhygienic and hazardous and an RSPCA inspector found predator and prey species being kept in close proximity to one another.

A peregrine falcon with a missing eye was found in a filthy cage too small to spread its wings, the RSPCA said.

It had to be put down along with 20 others.

In a written statement heard by Newport Magistrates’ Court, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben described unhygienic and hazardous conditions found during an inspection of the centre in April 2023.

The wild birds found included pigeons, blackbirds, crows, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon and a common buzzard.

Some were living in a kitchen inside the property, he said, while others were loose in the garden and some were caged in sheds, and 20 were found dead.

“There were many empty soiled bird cages piled on top of each other in the garden,” he said.

“In the back garden were several pigeons walking around that looked to have dropped wings along with some domestic ducks, a domestic goose and a chicken that was obviously lame.

“We were invited into the house and on the kitchen table were two fledgling blackbirds and a nestling pigeon.”

A cardboard box on a kitchen unit also held Jackdaw with an injured eye.

Mr Hogben said he found “a peregrine falcon bird with its left eye missing” in a shed.

“The environment was poor with no water and a filthy cage which was too small for the falcon to spread its wings in all directions.

“Within two feet [0.6m] of this cage containing the peregrine falcon was another cage containing eight pigeons.

“This cage was in full sight of the cage containing the peregrine falcon, and again had no water and the cage was in a filthy condition with hardly any perches.”

All the birds were sent for assessment by a wildlife veterinarian at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, where just five pigeons were deemed fit to be given the chance of rehabilitation.

Gravenor admitted failing to take steps to ensure the needs of the 26 birds were met as required – as well as five offences relating to causing unnecessary suffering to 17 birds (full wording below).

In mitigation, her solicitor said her intention was only ever to help birds and animals, and that she had tried her best, but they accepted the contents of expert veterinary reports as she was not an expert herself.

He confirmed his client had been “overwhelmed” and “swamped” by the situation.

Following sentencing inspector Hogben said: “Keeping and rehabilitating wild birds is a huge commitment requiring specialist knowledge, husbandry, equipment and accommodation.

“While most rescues and sanctuary owners start out with the best intentions, sadly, vulnerable animals entering these establishments can sometimes end up in even worse situations than they were in already, with sanctuary owners ending up in situations not realising the severity of the problems with their establishments until it is too late.

“In this case we appreciate the well-meaning intentions to help rescue and rehabilitate wild birds in need. However, it is always imperative to seek prompt veterinary care, including seeking advice on whether birds can be successfully rehabilitated, whilst also housing any birds in an appropriate and clean environment – and clearly the consequences of failing to do that here were serious for the birds involved.”

Sentencing | 14-week custodial, suspended for 12 month; ordered to pay £300 plus £154 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.

Wales247
BBC News
Caerphilly Observer

Cats, Hoarders

Crosby, Liverpool: Mandy Swash

January 13, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | hoarder Mandy Swash, born 3 September 1970, of Rosedale Avenue, Crosby, Liverpool L23 0UQ – kept animals in shocking squalor.

Hoarder Mandy Swash from Crosby, Liverpool Picture: Facebook

Two dead cats were discovered by RSPCA inspector Louise Showering during a visit to Mandy Swash’s previous home on Barmouth Way, Vauxhall, Liverpool, in September 2022. The charity had been called to investigate reports of dead animals and animals living in poor conditions. Showering put on a mask to go inside what was described as a “house of horrors” and said she “immediately” noticed a smell and flies everywhere.

Squalid conditions in which the RSPCA discovered two dead cats belonging to Liverpool woman Mandy Swash

Describing the conditions at the property, inspector Showering said in a witness statement: “Inside there were boxes and bags piled high making it difficult to see the floor. I had to stand on rubbish and cat litter in order to go up the stairs.

“The bathroom was in a filthy state with items covering the floor and inside the bath. The door of the back bedroom was off the hinges and resting against bags and the bed behind it.

“The window was partially obscured by piles of bags and there were many flies and fleas in the room. The landing was blocked by more items so I had to climb over these to reach the other two bedrooms.

“Inside the front larger bedroom, the bed was heavily soiled by faeces. I had to stand on rubbish just to get into the room. Inside the kitchen, I was again unable to see the floor due to the amount of rubbish.

“There was faeces and empty food packets, plastic and empty soiled bowls and litter trays. The kitchen itself was also filthy, with piles of faeces stacked up next to the sink and on the work surfaces.”

Sadly, in the living room and rear bedrooms, the RSPCA officer found the bodies of the two dead cats.

Ms Showering said: “In the lounge area, I saw a black bin bag over the top of one of the boxes. The letting agent informed me that he had spoken with Swash who told him that one of the dead cats was in a box in the lounge so I removed the box outside and found the body of a black domestic shorthaired cat inside.

“The cat appeared to have had a head injury and trauma to the eye area. In the rear bedroom, I saw a large number of fleas jumping on a blanket to the left of the door. I removed the blanket and discovered the body of a black domestic short-haired cat which appeared underweight and also had a flea infestation.”

It is believed the cat in the living room had suffered head injuries following a road traffic accident.

After the inspector left the home, more than 185 bites appeared over her body, which she said was the “worst case” of flea bites she had suffered in her 13 year career.

She said: “This was an incredibly sad case which resulted in the neglect and suffering of multiple cats.

“These cats were not provided with a suitable environment in which to live due to the heavily soiled litter trays, a heavy build up of cat faeces on work surfaces, floors, beds and soft furnishings and unsafe living conditions due to the hoarding of items such as plastic bags, and stacked items, causing potential trapping or injury hazards.

“There were no safe, comfortable, clean places in which the cats could rest. The environment was such that it would be more difficult to spot an injured cat easily. They were heavily infested with fleas and there was a build-up of faeces and detritus which would create a breeding ground for disease.”

Swash also had two female black and white cats who had been moved out of the property previously. The cats – Maud, two, and Mabel, seven – appeared in normal bodily condition and no further issues were raised.

Maud and Mabel have remained in Swash’s care and are well looked after, receiving regular vet checks and flea treatment.

Swash was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 4, 2024, where she was proven guilty in her absence.

In mitigation, the court heard how her personal circumstances are different now in terms of mental health and therefore no disqualification order was imposed.

Sentencing | 12 month community order with 20 days of rehab; eight-week curfew mental health treatment requirement; £1,250 in costs plus £114 victim surcharge. No ban.

Liverpool Echo
National World

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Daryl Burgess

January 13, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Daryl Burgess, born 6 April 1992, of Chantry Close, Clacton CO16 9QL – starved his dog to death.

Dog killer Daryl Burgess from Clacton on Sea, Essex. Image: Facebook

Burgess was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the skeletal remains of the young mastiff-type dog named Patch were found in his garden. The horrific discovery was made on 12 January 2023 by police officers pursuing a suspect.

The RSPCA was alerted and an investigation was started.

RSPCA inspector Emma Beynon said: “I was shocked and upset to see the condition he was in.

“Every single bone could be seen in his body, he looked like a skeleton. Patch would not have even been two years old.”

A vet who examined Patch gave him a body condition score of zero out of nine and said the owner “should have .. sought medical advice and treatment”.

They continued: “By not seeking veterinary advice they would have been failing to meet the animal’s needs, causing the suffering of the animal.

“It would have taken days to weeks to reach a body condition score this low.”

In court, Burgess pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to adequately explore and address the dog’s weight loss.

In mitigation sick Burgess, who represented himself, described Patch’s wilful killing as “an unfortunate event”.

Speaking after the conviction, inspector Beynon described the case as “truly heart-breaking”.

She added: “This was a deliberate disregard for Patch which resulted in his sad death.

“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 and Patch was left to suffer.”

Sentencing | 23 weeks in prison; £300 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

Echo
EssexLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Scarborough, North Yorkshire: Katey Cammish

January 9, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | Katey Elizabeth Cammish, born c.1988, of Hawthorn Walk, Eastfield, Scarborough YO11 3HW – locked a starved dog in a filthy kitchen

Animal abuser: Katey Cammish from Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Picture: Facebook

Cammish pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to the unnamed female lurcher-type dog. These included failure to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal and failure to ensure the needs of an animal.

Animal abuser: Katey Cammish from Scarborough, North Yorkshire locked a dog in a kitchen to starve in squalor

Officers from North Yorkshire Police rescued the dog when they attended the property on a separate matter and found the emaciated pet living in a kitchen covered in faeces and urine with no water, food or suitable bedding. According to animal welfare experts, the smell would have been nauseating and distressing to the dog.

After being removed from the property, the dog drank copious amounts of water offered by the officers, indicating a rapid urgency to drink.

The dog’s ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones were clearly visible and after being checked over by a vet, she was given a body condition score of 2 out of 9. She had poor muscle tone, no palpable fat on her body resulting in the protruding bones, signs of dry skin and overgrown claws.

Cammish claimed that she had left the dog in the care of someone else. She also told officers that the dog could not put weight on; this was however contradicted by the fact that the dog quickly gained weight after being taken into the care of the RSPCA.

The dog is now thriving, after being cared for by the RSPCA, and has been rehomed.

RSPCA Inspector Geoff Edmond said: “The police attended this address and found the dog in an appalling state, living in totally unsuitable conditions. The officers were very concerned and sought advice from us.

“The dog was immediately removed for her own safety and I would like to thank the police officers involved in this investigation who worked in partnership with the RSPCA to ensure she could receive the proper care and attention she needed.”

PC Sam Thompson, of Scarborough Response Team, seized the dog and led the investigation.

He said: “As a dog owner myself, I was horrified by the conditions of both the dog and its environment. I am so pleased that the dog is no longer suffering. There is simply no excuse for anybody to keep an animal in those conditions and this case should act as a reminder for all pet owners, they have a duty of care and responsibility towards their animals.”

A second person who has not yet been named for legal reasons also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act and was disqualified from owning an animal for five years.

Sentencing | 12-week custodial suspended for 18 months; rehabilitation; £85 costs and £154 surcharge. Disqualified from owning an animal for five years (expires January 2029).

York Press

Birds, Dogs, Equine Abuse, Hoarders, horses and ponies, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Torrington, Devon: Diana Curtis

January 8, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal hoarder Diana Curtis, born c. 1958, of Peters Marland, Torrington EX38 8QD – neglected dozens of animals in her care.

Serial animal hoarder Diana Curtis from Torrington, Devon.

Curtis, a notorious animal hoarder well-known to the RSPCA and courts, was given a suspended custodial sentence and laughable five-year ban after horses, dogs, chickens, ducks and a goat were found in squalor at her home.

Animals abused and neglected by serial animal hoarder Diana Curtis from Torrington, Devon.

RSPCA inspectors were joined by police, vets, staff from the Dog’s Trust and officers from Torridge District Council, at the address in July 2022. They found a number of animals, some left without food, water or the vet care they needed.

A stallion, named Mid Morning Monkey, was found with an eye ulcer; checks with vets showed he’d been left with no treatment. Two other horses, named Symphonies Secret and Summer’s Place Jessica, were both found to have untreated dental disease.

Summer’s Place Jessica also had deformed legs and swollen knees. She had an uneven gait and was regularly seen tripping – particularly on her right fore leg. A vet later diagnosed chronic arthritis which had been left untreated.

The stables, which also housed a female goat alongside horses, were dirty with faeces and soiled straw. There was no clean bedding and no hay, food or water available.

Poultry, which was found standing in pens thick with faeces and soiled bedding with dirty water and no food, were also found to have untreated scaly leg. Inside the address, rescuers found more unsuitable living conditions for animals.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Suzy Hannaby said: “The property was filthy and appeared to have been used as a dog kennel rather than for human habitation, the floors were bare and the only furniture present was for storage.

“There were no chairs or human beds. There was a strong smell of ammonia in the downstairs of the property. There were dog faeces and soiled straw and shavings on the floor, pieces of wooden board, dirty dog beds and two empty crates. There was no food or water available.”

Following an RSPCA prosecution Curtis was convicted of eight offences, some after trial.

Sentencing | 16-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; £10,000 towards costs plus £154 victim surcharge. FIVE-year ban (expires December 2028).

DevonLive

In October 2010 Curtis was given an ASBO due to excessive noise from 100 dogs kept at her property. She pleaded guilty to a noise abatement offence. She was also fined £2,000.

Police officers and animal welfare officers were forced to remove all but six of the dogs from Curtis after she failed to adhere to a court order to do so.

Following Curtis’s conviction, Devon & Cornwall Police Inspector Andy Lilburn said there was “no suggestion of cruelty here whatsoever”, adding that the dogs were “healthy, well-cared for, fed and watered”.

Curtis said she intended appealing the decision but said that “most of the dogs will have been destroyed by the time I raise the money”.

Following the appeal hearing in November 2010, she was ultimately given permission to keep 14 animals.

In December 2011 a further 34 dogs as well as 14 horses were seized from Curtis. After pleading guilty to breaching her ASBO, she was told she could only have a maximum of six dogs.

The RSPCA said at the time they were considering if any animal welfare offences had been committed and whether to prosecute.

In June 2013 Curtis was given a community sentence of 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £27,000 in court costs after keeping 33 horses and 34 dogs in appalling conditions.

Officials from the RSPCA found the premises to be covered in faeces and littered with hazards.

The court heard there was no outside grazing available and virtually no food and animals had to eat part of a stinging nettle bush.

Prosecutor Iain O’Donnell said: ‘Thirty-four dogs were removed from the premises. Photographs show the disgusting conditions in which they were living.’

Curtis was only banned from keeping horses and for a mere 12 months.

Daily Mail

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

Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, Wales: Kristina Barton

January 7, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Kristina Barton, born 18 August 1995, of Heol Dinefwr. Foelgastell, Cross Hands, Llanelli SA14 7EH – for dog breeding without a licence.

Illegal dog breeder Kristina Barton from Cross Hands, Llanelli, Wales. Photo: Facebook

Unlicensed puppy breeder Barton, who also runs a pony event business called Carmarthenshire Party Ponies & Therapy Pets, was told to pay £26,700 after admitting three charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings were launched, where the prosecution alleged that Barton profited to the sum of around £31,000 from the illegal puppy sales.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Barton had bred as many as nine litters of puppies during that period. The case was brought to light after multiple complaints from concerned neighbours to Carmarthenshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.

The investigation began in April 2020 when Barton initially inquired about a dog breeding licence. Despite being provided with an information pack, subsequent complaints from neighbouring properties surfaced, leading to allegations of illegal dog breeding, unauthorised construction of kennels and stables, noise disturbances from barking dogs, and dogs straying and fouling outside the property.

In May 2021, an advert on the Pets4Homes website revealed that Barton was advertising a litter of puppies, prompting a warning letter from Carmarthenshire County Council. However, the situation escalated when Dyfed Powys Police received additional complaints in April 2022.

A Data Protection Act request, by the Local Authority to Pets4Homes, uncovered that Barton bred as many as nine litters of puppies and offered four individual dogs for sale between May 17, 2021, and July 30, 2023 – all without the required dog breeding license.

Despite previous advisories, Barton continued her breeding operations, leading to legal action by the County Council.

Sentencing | 12-month conditional discharge; ordered to pay £26,721.12 as well as £500 in costs and a £22 surcharge.

South Wales Guardian
Daily Mail

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Marfleet, Kingston upon Hull: Steph Boyd and Danny Jordan

January 7, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeders Stephanie Boyd, born c. 1981, and Daniel Jordan, born c. 1988, of Uxbridge Grove, Marfleet, Hull HU9 5BU – left six American bulldog puppies to starve.

Hull couple Danny Jordan and Steph Boyd were banned from keeping animals for life after six of their American bulldog puppies were found to be severely malnourished and deformed

On 28 December 2022 six emaciated puppies were handed into a rescue centre by Danny Jordan, who claimed his child had found them dumped on a roadside.

The RSPCA was contacted and an appeal for information was made in the media by the independent rescue centre which had the puppies.

Sadly, two of the puppies were so poorly they died overnight, with the surviving four needing veterinary treatment.

As a result of the media coverage, a member of the public contacted the RSPCA naming Boyd and Jordan as the breeders.

The court heard that RSPCA inspector Claire Mitchell visited Boyd and Jordan’s address and spoke to them.

In a witness statement presented to court, inspector Mitchell said: “I asked what had happened to their most recent puppies and Stephanie said that six puppies had been rehomed at the beginning of December to a man she didn’t know and had no details of.”

The man who took the puppies to the rescue centre had left a telephone number, which matched Jordan’s phone number.

Inspector Mitchell said: “At this point I suspected that it was Daniel Jordan that had dropped off the puppies [at the rescue centre] and that they had never been dumped.”

A vet who examined the surviving puppies – three males and one female – said in a witness statement that the dogs, who were aged around four months old, were in a poor body condition.

She added: “They had no muscle mass and bony prominences visible under the skin. All four puppies had a body condition score of one out of nine, where one is emaciated, and nine is obese.

“All of the puppies had a hunched posture, appearance of curved spines and malnourishment and some live fleas were visible in their coats.”

The vet added: “I suspected that the postural deformities shown in these puppies was due to malnutrition and limited exercise over a prolonged period.

“In my opinion the puppies were suffering for a minimum of two weeks to get into the condition they were in, but likely longer, possibly up to two months. I would expect a reasonable owner to provide food suitable for the age of a dog, to achieve a healthy weight and body condition, and to seek guidance and veterinary attention if unsure what diet to provide, especially when it becomes obvious that the puppies are suffering malnourishment.”

Sadly, one of the surviving puppies did not improve and was put to sleep to end their suffering. The three other puppies made a full recovery and have since been rehomed.

Boyd and Jordan pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Following the sentencing, Inspector Mitchell said: “They claimed the puppies had been found abandoned, but what actually happened was that Boyd and Jordan had bred them and then did not give them the proper nutrition and exercise required, resulting in them becoming ill. It is sad that three of the puppies did not survive.

“However, the three surviving puppies went onto new homes and now have new lives.

“We’re grateful to the members of the public and the rescue centre for their help in bringing this case to court.”

Sentencing | four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months; costs of £400 each. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.

Hull Daily Mail
Yorkshire Post
Mirror

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Radcliffe, Greater Manchester: Nina Jones

January 4, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Nina Jones, born c. 1988, of 11 Hazel Grove, Radcliffe, near Bury, Manchester M26 1DD – abandoned her poorly pet dog in a filthy house.

Animal abuser: Nina Jones from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. Picture: Facebook

Mother-of-seven Jones was prosecuted by the RSPCA in relation to an elderly Staffy named Ronnie, who was found living in squalor at her abandoned home. The little dog was visibly shaking and desperately unwell with an untreated tumour. Sadly, nothing could be done to save him and he was put to sleep.

Animal abuser Nina Jones from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester left her dog alone in a scene of filth and squalor — Ronnie was left to suffer alone in a scene of filth and squalor

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Lee Farrons attended the scene in November 2023 after the charity received a report of concern from a neighbour.

He said: “The neighbour opened the back door because it was unlocked and I found a very skinny, abandoned dog in the house.

“The dog, called Ronnie, was very thin and not in a good condition.
“He was a black male Staffy-type dog who was visibly shaking.

“He had a large growth on the bottom left of his mouth and some discharge around his eyes and I could see his ribs and spine without having to get close.

“The neighbour told me she went into the house as she was concerned that the animals had been abandoned.

“She showed me a video and some photos of the inside of the house when she entered and said the house looked very messy with lots of faeces and litter on the floor.

“I decided Ronnie needed to see a vet immediately. He couldn’t go to the toilet despite seemingly trying and he was unsteady on his feet with shaking legs. He appeared very weak so I transferred him to RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.”

A tumour was then sadly detected.

The RSPCA said it made ‘numerous attempts to contact Jones’ about Ronnie’s condition together with the council and she was finally spoken to on November 23. A spokesman for the charity said she admitted she knew the dog needed to be put to sleep. Ronnie’s condition didn’t improve despite treatment.

Chief Inspector Nina Small said: “This was a very sad case which resulted in poor Ronnie suffering for around three weeks before being rescued. He was so poorly that a vet decided the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep, which was heartbreaking.”

Sentencing | 12 month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and 60 days of unpaid work; £400 costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping any animal as a pet for just five years (expires December 2028).

Manchester Evening News
Bury Times

Additional Information

A neighbour of Nina Jones contacted us with the following allegations:

“She had an XL bully puppy and was on about getting another. I haven’t seen the puppy for a while though.

“She had a black cat, a female. She was tiny, didn’t grow much at all. Nina kept letting her out to get pregnant.

Serial animal abuser Nina Jones from Radcliffe, Greater manchester

“Some neighbours tried stopping her getting pregnant. We even offered to take the cat. She agreed at first then refused because the cat was pregnant.

“She’s had around two dogs since Ronnie

“I rarely see her. She is never in. She comes home dead late in the morning with her children (the children she has left – the rest got taken).

“The RSPCA took the cat I think. I haven’t seen the cat in a while.

“I’m really not sure what happened to the XL bully either

“Apparently she had rabbits & didn’t feed them and they died.”

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: January 2024