CONVICTED (2023) | Jon McDermott, born 4 October (year tbc), and wife Stacey McDermott née Stacey Avery, born 14 August 1969, of New Road, Bream, near Lydney GL15 – kept six badly neglected dogs and a bearded dragon in poor conditions.
A warrant was executed on Thursday, February 9, 2023, by Forest of Dean District Council animal welfare officials with the assistance of the Rural Crime Team and Local Policing Team from Gloucestershire Constabulary at the home of Jon and Stacey McDermott.
Four cavapoo-type dogs were found in an upstairs bedroom in squalid conditions. The wooden bedroom floor and en-suite floor was covered in dog faeces and urine, and the dogs were unkempt with long claws and matted fur. Two further dogs of similar breed were kept in the downstairs kitchen, with the floor of the kitchen containing dog faeces and all dogs having very little bedding.
The dogs were seized and rushed for treatment at a local vet practice. They were found to have various health conditions, badly matted coats, and were covered in fleas.
Meanwhile, the bearded dragon was found in the conservatory area in an appropriately-sized vivarium. However, he had no heat or lighting, and the substrate was full of faeces and there appeared to be no fresh food or water.
Stacey McDermott and Jon McDermott appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on October 16, 2023.
Prosecutor Alex Kirk described the scene to the court describing the master bedroom in which the six dogs were kept as being “in a shocking state”.
He continued: “The quantity of faeces was overwhelming and the amount of it showed that the room hadn’t been cleaned for a number of months.
“The dogs were seized and were found to be suffering from a number of conditions.
“One had an infection in its eye which had to be removed by a vet while another was significantly smaller than the others.
“Another three dogs had otitis (a middle ear infection) in both ears while the remainder were suffering from long-term skin inflammations causing them animal’s pain, itching and overall long-term suffering.”
Mr Kirk explained that the house was in a cluttered state with an “overwhelming stench of ammonia and fleas”, while the garden, which was mostly concreted over, was full of building materials and trailers.
Mr Kirk added: “Inside an outbuilding there was a cage that contained a bearded dragon lizard which, because of the lack of ultraviolet light, was not the sandy-yellow colour it would normally be.
“When the cage was opened the lizard did not move or react. The lizard was seized and ultimately taken to a reptile sanctuary.”
Mr Kirk added: “This was a long-standing period of neglect where the animals suffered badly, contracting severe eye and ear conditions along with skin inflammation. The amount of faeces discovered showed this was not a recent occurrence but had been going on for some time.”
Stacey McDermott pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs in her care and two counts of failing to meet the needs of the dogs and a bearded dragon in her care.
Jon McDermott pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to meet an animal’s needs for the bearded dragon and all six dogs.
In mitigation Holly Burton told the court the couple were in financial dire straits and owed more than £10,000 in various debts.
She added: “Both of them have mental health difficulties and were living themselves among these poor living conditions.
“The couple did not deliberately mistreat the animals, but had become neglectful, mainly due to the deterioration of their mental health.”
The prosecution was brought by the Street Warden Team at The Forest of Dean District Council with the assistance of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit.
Sentencing | eight weeks in prison each, suspended for 12 months; contribution of £750 each towards the council’s costs; victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires October 2028).