CONVICTED (2023) | Jermaine Joshua Henderson, born 30 September 1994, of 1 Cherry Tree Way, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6JG – allowed his French bulldog to become emaciated and dragging her limbs.
The French bulldog, named Jada, was found underweight and dragging her hind limbs when an RSPCA officer visited Henderson’s home in Cherry Tree Way, Horwich, in August 2022. It was discovered the dog was suffering from several chronic and severe health conditions, which should have been treated by a vet.
Henderson had taken the dog to a vet appointment at the Animal Trust on March 4, 2022, after she suddenly lost the use of her back legs. Apart from oral pain relief, the dog was then left with no medical intervention for the next five months.
When RSPCA worker Jessica Pierce visited Henderson’s address on August 13, 2022, she was “extremely concerned” for the dog’s welfare.
In a statement read out in court, she said: “The defendant opened a door of a room to the front of the flat and I immediately got a smell of faeces and urine.
“Jada appeared visibly underweight with her ribs, hips and spine bones showing.
“She could not walk very well at all and her back legs were crossing over and dragging behind her. I asked her owner if she had been to the vet and he stated she had been to the Animal Trust, but he couldn’t remember when this was, although he confirmed she wasn’t currently under a vet.”
A vet at the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital said in a statement presented to the court that a cervical intervertebral disc prolapse was considered as a diagnosis at the consultation in March. She said that though the vet at that appointment offered further investigations, the owner declined on the grounds of cost.
“While Mr Henderson did present Jada to a vet due to her serious neurological condition, he subsequently failed to present her again when she did not rapidly return to normal, along with the other clinical concerns identified, particularly the ear disease,” she stated.
Sadly, with her prognosis being so poor, vets decided to put her to sleep to end her suffering.
A post-mortem showed the dog was suffering with spinal cord compression with subsequent nerve loss contributing to muscle wastage in her back legs. She also had a severe infection and inflammation of her ear structures.
Henderson was prosecuted by the RSPCA and pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He appeared for sentencing at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on December 14, 2023.
Sentencing | four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months; £400 court costs and victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires December 2028).
It’s the ones like this prick that are giving our dogs bad rep. He needs to go and get them ears sorted. 👂 😆 🤣
Make me sick