CONVICTED (2015) | Heather Ray, born 22/11/1978, previously of Whitehaven and more recently (2018) of Scotby Gardens, Carlisle CA1 2XH – starved her pet dog and failed to treat his flea infestation
The dog named Buster was found at the home of Heather Ray by the RSPCA. He had no water and was 6kg underweight. He was dehydrated, had not been fed for days and was said to be “perilously thin”.
However, after being rescued by the RSPCA, Buster recovered and went on to be rehoused.
Greg Hoare, prosecuting, told the court: “An inspector saw the dog was in poor bodily condition. Its ribs and spine were prominent, it was subdued and it was thought the coat had some sort of shimmer. It was an infestation of fleas.
“The vet who examined the dog said she had never seen such a phenomenal infestation on any animal she had examined.”
The dog gained 2kg in just 24 hours after being seized from Ray’s care.
Details of the shocking neglect emerged as Ray lodged an appeal against a prison sentence she was given following her conviction for five counts of animal neglect.
She was found guilty by magistrates of the offences, committed in June 2014, after she failed to turn up for a trial. She was given a community order, which she breached, and then received a 60-day prison sentence instead.
A further 60 days were added for non-payment of fines imposed for motoring offences.
Single mother of four Ray, who has racked up numerous convictions for a variety of offences over the years, won her appeal and the latter term, for fines default, was halved by Judge Peter Hughes QC.
Alison Whalley, defending, told the court that Ray had almost served the whole of the 120-day prison sentence in any event.
Ray did not seek to challenge the magistrates’ findings in the trial as she would have pleaded guilty to the animal neglect.
Judge Hughes allowed the sentence appeal but was scathing of the way Ray had treated her pet.
“That anyone could keep a dog in such a condition is deplorable,” he said. “The dog had been grossly neglected over a significant period of time.”
Sentence: 60 days in jail . No ban on keeping animals.
If you have Animals you need to be able to Look After Them. There Is No Excuse For Starving An Animal, She Was Obviously Feeding The 4 Kids and Herself. She Could Have At Least Cooked More For The Dog, At The Same Time
A Bath With Flea Shampoo, and Wash All Soft Furnishings,
would have done the trick.