Travellers Hames and Price, who are based in Raglan, Monmouthshire but have links to Derby and Hereford, were convicted of multiple animal welfare offences after prolonged neglect at a property in Leominster.
The case involved dogs, cats, horses, a duck and a guinea pig, all kept in conditions that failed to meet even the most basic welfare standards.
Both initially denied the allegations but changed their pleas to guilty on 1 September 2026.
The couple were found responsible for depriving the animals of adequate food, fresh drinking water and a suitable living environment.
Several of the animals were underweight, living in poor conditions and suffering from a lack of appropriate care.
Price also admitted separate offences relating to two horses — Moonshine, a piebald cob mare, and Mimi, a bay Dartmoor-type mare — whose welfare needs were not met due to inadequate hoof and dental care, parasite issues and malnutrition.
The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA, who described the animals as having suffered “significant neglect” while in the couple’s care.
Sentence
Court: Hereford Magistrates’ Court — 29 September 2026 Hames: 10‑year ban; community order (10 days of rehab); £50 fine; £114 surcharge; £350 costs; deprivation order for all five dogs. Price: 10‑year ban; 150 hours of unpaid work; £114 surcharge; £350 costs. Ban Expiry: September 2036 (no appeal for five years) Prosecutor: RSPCA
At a Glance
Defendants: Joeline Cathlyne Violet Hames (born c. 1980), Noah Hendri Amos Price (born c. 1983)
Address: Abergavenny Road, Raglan, Usk NP15 2AA
Occupation: Price — scrap‑metal collector, gardener and home improvements
A sheep trapped in brambles at Groes Farm, rescued by officers during the inspection.
Case Summary
Luke Morgan, of Groes Farm, Southerndown, Bridgend, was convicted of serious animal‑welfare offences following an investigation by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Officers attended the farm in October 2025 after concerns were raised about the condition of sheep on the grazing land.
During the inspection, officers found multiple welfare breaches.
A sheep with a severe eye injury was discovered unable to stand, lying in a field where 15 carcasses were also present in varying stages of decomposition.
Another sheep was found trapped in dense brambles and required immediate rescue.
Several animals showed signs of poor condition, including wool loss, scratching and evidence of ill health.
Investigators also identified widespread animal by‑product issues, with carcasses, bones and body parts scattered across the grazing land.
Morgan was unable to produce medicine records and admitted he had not checked the flock for approximately a week.
Formal notices were issued under animal‑welfare and animal‑by‑product legislation, requiring urgent action.
Follow‑up visits throughout November 2025 recorded improvements, including veterinary involvement, treatment for a significant worm burden, updated medicine records and relocation of the flock for closer monitoring.
Despite this, SRS determined that enforcement action was necessary due to the seriousness of the original findings.
Morgan was interviewed under caution and the case was referred for prosecution. At court, magistrates described the situation as “the worst case of animal neglect” they had encountered, stating that Morgan “should be ashamed” of the conditions found.
Sentence
Morgan received a 24‑week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay £5,000 towards prosecution costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Ricky Harrison — convicted for domestic violence and for neglect so severe it killed one of his dogs. Now banned from keeping animals for life.
Case Summary
Ricky James Kenneth Harrison received a suspended prison sentence and a lifetime ban after one of his two bull‑breed dogs, Suki, died from starvation and the other, Charlie, was found severely emaciated.
Charlie at the veterinary clinic after rescue, showing the extent of his starvation before beginning his recovery.
The suffering was prolonged, with veterinary evidence confirming a minimum of three weeks without adequate nutrition. Charlie survived and was later rehomed; Suki died inside the property.
Offender Overview
Name: Ricky James Kenneth Harrison
Born: circa 1984
Age at Conviction: 42
Last Known Address: Parc Puw, Drefach Felindre (postal locality: Velindre), Llandysul, SA44
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: Limited (as noted by the court)
Additional Information:
Offences include domestic violence and prolonged neglect of two dogs
Claimed a friend was feeding the dogs once daily
Mental health issues referenced in mitigation
Incident Details
Harrison admitted two Animal Welfare Act offences relating to Charlie, a three‑year‑old male bull‑breed dog, and Suki, a 12‑year‑old female bull‑breed dog.
Discovery – 15 November 2025
RSPCA Inspector Jemima Hanks‑Martin returned to the property after sealing the door the previous day due to concerns the dogs were unattended.
She found:
Door seals untouched
Side gate blocked
Only one dog audible behind the door
A dark Staffordshire bull terrier type dog visible through the damaged letterbox, extremely underweight, ribs/hips/spine visible
The dog desperately licking food and water pushed through the letterbox
The interior dirty and cluttered
No sign of the second dog
When Harrison arrived, he confirmed both dogs were inside but admitted he had not seen them for a week.
Suki curled up for the last time, her tiny body worn down by weeks of suffering.
He brought Charlie out first — emaciated.
He then returned inside and emerged crying, saying “she’s gone”, carrying the body of Suki, who was found dead, severely underweight, bones prominently visible.
Veterinary Findings
Both dogs were scored 1/9 for body condition (normal is 4–5).
Charlie:
Slightly raised urea (possible dehydration)
Low calcium
Otherwise unremarkable bloods
Good appetite once hospitalised
Suki:
Estimated dead 24–48 hours
Bloody diarrhoea
Small mass at base of tail
No underlying illness
Complete absence of gastrointestinal content → no feeding for 48–57 hours
Wischnewsky spots present — associated with starvation, stress, hypothermia
Presence of non‑edible material → she was trying to eat but had no food available
Vet’s conclusion: Suki died from starvation, and both dogs suffered for a minimum of three weeks.
Earlier Warnings
Inspector Hanks‑Martin had visited the property in July 2025 after a report of unattended dogs. At that time:
Both dogs were in ideal body condition
Welfare advice left
Harrison confirmed ownership
On 14 November 2025, she returned after another report:
Dog pushing against the letterbox
Blinds drawn
Side gate blocked
Only one dog audible
Harrison claimed a friend was feeding them daily
Inspector sealed the door and arranged to return
The next day’s visit led to the discovery of Suki’s death.
Animal Victims
Charlie — Male bull‑breed, 3 years
Emaciated, dehydrated
Survived and made full recovery
Rehomed by RSPCA Llys Nini Branch in February
Suki — Female bull‑breed, 12 years
Starved to death
Bones prominently visible
Post‑mortem confirmed prolonged suffering
Sentence
Court: Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court Date: 9 September 2026
Penalty:
12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months
Lifetime disqualification from owning or keeping animals
24‑month community order, including:
26 sessions of the Building Better Choices Programme
25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days
DIDAS intervention
Costs: £400
Surcharge: £187
Mitigation:
Mental health issues at the time
Accepted the prosecution’s case
Magistrates said the offences were “so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified”, citing domestic violence and the prolonged suffering that led to Suki’s death.
RSPCA Statement
Inspector Jemima Hanks‑Martin said: “It is heartbreaking to imagine what Suki and Charlie may have gone through. Although it was too late for Suki, thankfully Charlie recovered fully and has been happily rehomed.
“All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met. Anyone who is struggling should seek help.”
Robert Waldron, who punched his dog Narla with such force that her face was left swollen and bruised.
Case Summary
Bull terrier Narla suffered significant facial injuries after being subjected to blunt‑force trauma. A text message presented as evidence suggested the dog had been beaten with such force that the perpetrator, Robert Waldron aka Robert Thomas, injured his own hand.
Narla’s facial injuries were consistent with being punched with force, according to the examining vet.
The RSPCA found Narla with a swollen face, bruising around her left eye and ear, and pain on examination.
Waldron had not sought any veterinary treatment.
A vet concluded her injuries were consistent with being punched with force, causing at least 24 hours of pain, fear and distress.
A message Waldron sent to a relative, admitting he had beaten Narla with such force that he hurt his own hand.
Investigators also recovered a message Waldron sent to a relative, where he admitted he had beaten Narla and hurt his own hand in the process. This screenshot formed part of the evidence and directly supported the vet’s conclusion that her injuries were caused by blunt‑force trauma.
Witness says they saw Waldron beat his dogs “many times”.
A Facebook comment posted after Waldron’s conviction stated that the witness had personally seen him beat his dogs “many times” and had reported him more than a year earlier. The comment expressed frustration that action had only been taken now, after Narla had already suffered blunt‑force injuries.
Offender Overview
Name: Robert T Waldron aka Robert Thomas
Born: N/K
Age at Conviction: Not stated
Last Known Address: The Old School House, Tredegar Avenue, Llanharan, Pontyclun CF72 9BW
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: Not stated
Additional Information: Court heard he had depression and anger issues.
Incident Details
On 15 February 2026, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black and Animal Rescue Officer Kerry Clemett attended Waldron’s flat following a report of an incident involving Narla.
They found a large metal dog crate in the bathroom with no food, water or bedding.
Narla’s left eye was swollen, bruised and partially closed. The left side of her face was visibly swollen, and she yelped in pain when her jaw and eye were examined. A lesion was present on her left cheek, and bruising was noted inside her left ear.
Waldron claimed the dog had been involved in an accident on a nearby road and had not received any veterinary treatment. He consented to the RSPCA taking her to a vet.
The examining vet concluded Narla had been caused to suffer unnecessarily for at least 24 hours, experiencing pain, fear and distress. Her injuries were consistent with being punched with force, with striated bruising matching the knuckles of a fist.
Police took Narla into possession and placed her in RSPCA care for treatment and boarding.
Sentence
Court: Cardiff Magistrates’ Court Date: 5 August 2026
Penalty:
Five‑year disqualification from keeping animals (expires August 2031)
18‑month community order
£80 fine
10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement
26‑session programme requirement
£739 costs
£114 victim surcharge
Mitigation: Court heard Waldron had depression and anger issues.
Animal Victim
Narla as she once was: bright, alert and healthy. Her injuries at the vet told a very different story — one of pain, fear and blunt‑force trauma.
Name: Narla
Species: Dog
Breed: Bull terrier
Age: Unknown
Injuries: Blunt‑force trauma to left side of face; swelling; bruising; pain on jaw and eye examination; lesion on left cheek; bruising inside left ear
Fate: Taken into police possession; placed in RSPCA care for treatment and boarding.
RSPCA Statement
Following sentencing DCI Black added: “We’d like to thank those who helped us with the case from vets and members of the public who contacted us with the initial report.
“Members of the public are our eyes and ears and we rely on their information to investigate.
“It is heartbreaking to imagine what Narla may have gone through.”
On 12 August 2026, Helen Elizabeth Weston and Michael Bernard Weston, both of Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP, were convicted of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 after RSPCA officers discovered 145 animals living in catastrophic conditions inside their home.
Cats forced to live in a filthy bathroom coated in grime, faeces, and hazards — no ventilation, no hygiene, no care. One of several rooms the RSPCA described as “overwhelming” and unfit for any animal.
The property contained 114 guinea pigs and 31 cats, living among faeces, filth, flies, hazards, broken enclosures, ammonia fumes, and severe overcrowding.
Both offenders were disqualified from keeping animals for life, with no right to appeal for 10 years.
Offender Overview
Helen Elizabeth Weston
Born: 30 October 1964
Age at Conviction: 61
Last Known Address: Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: None reported
Additional Information: Long‑term RSPCA concerns had been raised for years; offers of help and neutering were repeatedly refused.
Michael Bernard Weston
Born: 31 May 1953
Age at Conviction: 73
Last Known Address: Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: None reported
Additional Information: Jointly responsible for all offences and conditions within the property.
Incident Details
The RSPCA, accompanied by vets and Gwent Police, executed a warrant at the property in May 2025 following concerns for several cats. Officers had previously attempted to help the couple for years, but access was denied and offers of support were refused.
Upon entry, officers encountered:
An overwhelming ammonia smell throughout the house
Extreme clutter, rubbish, grime, dust, cobwebs, and both live and dead flies
Multiple rooms sealed shut, trapping cats inside
No ventilation, no natural light, and filthy litter trays
Cats displaying flu‑like symptoms, respiratory issues, and general ill health
Bedrooms overflowing with clothes, cat food, and mouldy faeces
Bathrooms used as cat confinement areas, blocked by carriers and debris
A hallway enclosure containing a guinea pig standing on compacted faeces, with broken wiring and no working water supply
Two additional broken enclosures nearby
A living room containing over 100 guinea pigs, loose and confined, in what inspectors described as “the worst environment” they had ever seen
Ground‑down faeces forming a “mud carpet” across the floor
Furniture rotted through, exposing springs and hazards
Empty water bottles, overcrowded cages, broken mesh, and no hides or enrichment
The room swarming with insects and “moth‑type creatures”
Guinea pigs crammed into filthy, broken cages — overcrowded, unsafe, and surrounded by debris. This is the environment Helen and Michael Weston kept over a hundred guinea pigs in.
Furniture disintegrated when moved, revealing more filth, grime, and insects. It took multiple officers, a vet, and a vet nurse hours to locate and confine all animals.
Animal Victims
Guinea Pigs (114)
Many loose, others confined in broken enclosures
Overcrowded cages, stacked or collapsed
No clean water; bottles empty
No hides or enrichment
Exposed to hazards including springs, broken mesh, and rotted furniture
Five euthanised on welfare grounds; one died
Many pregnant at rescue, increasing numbers in care
Cats (31)
Confined in sealed rooms with no ventilation
Dirty litter trays, dirty bedding, no natural light
Flu‑like symptoms and respiratory issues
Six euthanised due to ongoing health problems
Sentence
Court: Newport Magistrates’ Court Date: 12 August 2026
Penalty:
12‑week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months (each)
Lifetime disqualification from keeping animals
No appeal permitted for 10 years
£200 costs each
£154 victim surcharge each
Mitigation:
Mr Weston was reported to be suffering from ongoing health issues, and Mrs Weston had become his full‑time carer. The couple stated that the situation had “got out of hand” and apologised for not engaging with the RSPCA sooner.
RSPCA Statement
Chief Inspector Emma Smith described the property as containing:
“An extremely overwhelming smell of ammonia”
“Dust, cobwebs, dirt, grime, live and dead flies all in abundance”
Rooms “in no way fit for purpose”
The living room as “the worst I have seen”
She thanked all staff involved and confirmed that the rescued animals have since been rehomed.
UKACF Commentary
This wasn’t “hoarding.” This was catastrophic, deliberate neglect on a scale that defies belief.
The couple kept 145 animals in conditions so extreme that officers described the living room as the worst environment they had ever encountered. A “mud carpet” made of faeces. Furniture rotted through. Cats sealed into rooms with no ventilation. Guinea pigs running through holes in collapsing sofas. Animals drinking from empty bottles, living among insects, filth, and hazards.
The couple refused help for years. They refused neutering. They refused rehoming. They refused access. And all the while, the number of animals grew — and suffered.
A lifetime ban is not just appropriate; it is essential. No appeal for ten years is the bare minimum.
This case is a reminder that neglect can be just as devastating as overt cruelty — and that refusing help is often the first warning sign of a disaster waiting to happen.
Kimberley Richards‑Miller, who received a lifetime ban from keeping animals following the death of her pet Dalmatian.
Summary
Richards-Miller was banned from keeping animals for life after her one‑year‑old Dalmatian, Darcy, was found dead in an emaciated condition.
Darcy, the one‑year‑old Dalmatian, photographed after her death. Her emaciated condition was central to the RSPCA investigation.
She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 29 July 2026.
Offender Overview
Name: Kimberley Richards-Miller Born: circa 1988 Age at Conviction: 38 Last Known Address: Bonymaen Road, Bonymaen, Swansea, SA1 7AS Occupation: unknown Previous Convictions: unknown Additional Information: Online evidence suggests multiple previous dogs — whereabouts unknown.
Summary of Offence
The RSPCA was contacted after Darcy’s body was presented to a veterinary practice on 14 November 2025.
Richards‑Miller with an unidentified basset‑hound‑type dog. The fate of this dog, and others previously in her care, remains unknown.
Inspector Keith Hogben reported that Darcy scored 1 out of 9 on the body condition scale. The court heard that Richards‑Miller had been advised several times to seek veterinary treatment in the weeks leading up to Darcy’s death, but failed to do so.
A post‑mortem examination found:
Severe loss of fat and muscle tissue
Almost no gut contents
Stomach ulceration (Wischnewsky spots) linked to stress and hypothermia
No underlying illness to explain the weight loss
The examining vet stated that the findings were consistent with long‑term starvation, noting that an adult Dalmatian dropping from a normal weight of around 20kg to 7kg would take approximately five months on water alone. For a young, growing dog, the process would still take a number of months, with continuous suffering throughout.
The offence period covered 18 September to 15 November 2025.
Sentence
Richards‑Miller was sentenced to:
Lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals
12 months’ custody, suspended for 18 months
25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days
150 hours unpaid work
£400 costs
£187 victim surcharge
In mitigation, the court heard she was “genuinely remorseful”.
RSPCA Statement
Inspector Hogben said: “It is heartbreaking to imagine what Darcy may have gone through. All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met. Anyone who is struggling should seek help.”
Elderly collie/German Shepherd-cross Cora was found tied to a tree two days after Christmas, suffering from severe untreated skin disease, chronic dermatitis, thickened skin, multiple masses and extensive hair loss.
Neglect left Cora’s coat patchy and her skin exposed.
Her owner, David Allen Murphy, failed to seek veterinary treatment for weeks to months, leaving her in prolonged physical and mental suffering. He received a suspended prison sentence and a 10‑year ban.
Offender Overview
Name: David Murphy Born: circa 1986 (age 40 at sentencing) Address: Quay Street, Carmarthen Court: Llanelli Magistrates’ Court Date of Sentence: 24 July 2026 Animal: Cora — elderly Collie‑cross German Shepherd Organisation(s): RSPCA Cymru, Hope Rescue, Dyfed‑Powys Police
Summary of Offence
On 27 December 2025, police found Cora tied to a tree in freezing conditions. She had an obvious skin disease, extensive bald patches, thickened skin, chronic dermatitis and multiple mammary masses. Officers had seen her with Murphy shortly beforehand.
A painful, inflamed wound caused by long‑term neglect.
Cora was taken to a veterinary practice for urgent treatment. Photographs taken before she was clipped showed severe hair loss on her neck, lower back and flanks.
A veterinary statement described Cora as:
“very itchy with severe skin disease”
“moist dermatitis scabbed over on both flanks”
“chronic skin changes around her ears”
“very thickened skin indicating a long‑standing issue”
“multiple masses over her body mostly in the mammary area”
The vet concluded that it would have taken weeks to months for Cora’s condition to deteriorate to this extent, and that she had suffered unnecessarily for that entire time — physically from irritation, scabbing and chronic inflammation, and mentally from the inability to escape constant discomfort.
Murphy failed to seek veterinary attention for an obvious health issue, breaching his duty of care and causing prolonged suffering.
His solicitor said Murphy was struggling with drug issues at the time, though the court made clear this did not excuse the neglect.
Cora, finally safe and able to rest.
Cora was taken into police possession and transferred to RSPCA care. She is now recovering with Hope Rescue.
Sentence
Murphy pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He received:
18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months
120 hours unpaid work
25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days
10‑year ban on keeping animals
£600 costs
£150 victim surcharge
No separate penalty for failing to surrender under the Bail Act
In mitigation, the court heard that Murphy “loved the dog” and had drug issues.
RSPCA Statement
Inspector Keith Hogben said:
“Every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect and if you have a pet you are responsible for making sure they are happy and healthy. We would urge anyone struggling to seek help.”
Hope Rescue Statement
Healthy, happy, and loved — Cora today. Credit: Hope Rescue
Hope Rescue confirmed that Cora’s skin has recovered well and she is now living in a loving foster home:
“She loves long walks, sunbathing in the garden and, most importantly, she will never be left out in the cold again.”
UKACF Metadata
Location: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire Offender: David Murphy Born: circa 1986 Animal: Cora — Collie-cross German Shepherd Offence: Causing unnecessary suffering (untreated skin disease; prolonged neglect) Offence Date: Nov–Dec 2025 Sentence Date: 24 July 2026 Court: Llanelli Magistrates’ Court Sentence: 18 weeks’ custody (suspended 18 months); 120 hours unpaid work; 25 RAR days Ban: 10 years Ban Expiry Date: July 2036 Costs: £600 + £150 surcharge Organisation(s): RSPCA Cymru, Hope Rescue, Dyfed-Powys Police Outcome for Animal: Recovering; Hope Rescue foster care
CONVICTED (2026) | Colwyn Robert Probert, born 13 November 1987, of Kingsmoor Common Caravan Park, Kilgetty SA68 0YF – illegally trapped wild goldfinches in his garden and confined them to overcrowded, filthy cages.
Pembrokeshire traveller Colwyn Probert received a 15-year bird-keeping ban and a suspended prison sentence after being prosecuted for illegally trapping and cruelly confining dozens of wild goldfinches.
Probert, a traveller, was prosecuted following an RSPCA raid at a property in The Glebe, Tenby, where inspectors uncovered dozens of goldfinches and other wild species held in captivity.
The case began when a rural crime officer from Dyfed-Powys Police flagged suspicious activity regarding wild birds being trapped in a residential garden.
When RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West and police raided the location, they discovered a severe hoarding and trapping operation:
Over a dozen goldfinches and a mule-type bird were locked in an outdoor aviary.
An additional 14 birds were cramped inside tiny cages within an adjacent room.
Three live-traps, metal identification rings, and ring cutters were seized on-site. One trap had been actively deployed next to a garden bird feeder.
The RSPCA noted that the birds exhibited severe distress, frantically flying into the cage bars in an attempt to escape.
An ornithological expert confirmed the birds were wild-caught, pointing to their dark leg coloration and injuries.
Several birds had sustained severe beak damage from striking the bars, and one had lost its tail. The expert concluded the birds had been kept in illegally overcrowded, filthy conditions without access to clean water.
During sentencing, the District Judge noted that the birds were likely trapped for commercial sale, telling Probert:
“You put wild birds who should be free and wild in unsuitable cages, which must have been extremely stressful for them.”
The seized birds were taken into RSPCA custody and transferred to the Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre in East Sussex. After undergoing rehabilitation, they were successfully released back into the wild.
Following the trial, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben condemned Probert’s actions, stating that the birds were “treated like commodities” rather than living creatures.
He reminded the public that under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it remains strictly illegal to deliberately kill, injure, or capture any wild bird without a specific license.
Sentencing | eight-week custodial suspended for two years; six-month curfew; 28 days of ‘rehabilitation’; £400 in prosecution costs and £154 victim surcharge; confiscation of all seized traps, cages and bird rings. A 15-year disqualification from keeping birds.
CONVICTED (2026) | Annasha Cara McCarthy, aka Neesha McCarty, born c. 1998, of High View, Mayhill, Swansea SA1 6US – allowed her dog to starve to death.
Annasha McCarthy neglected to feed her dog adequately, causing him to become severely emaciated and eventually die.
McCarthy has been permanently banned from owning animals after a bulldog in her care died from severe starvation.
The mother-of-two admitted in court that she failed to seek help as her dog, Chico, rapidly lost weight, breaching the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Chico died from starvation, weighing only 10.9kg — half of what he weighed nine months earlier.
The three‑year‑old bulldog was already dead when brought to a Swansea veterinary practice on October 20, 2025.
Records showed he had lost more than half his body weight in just nine months.
A vet assessed his body condition as one out of nine — the lowest possible score — noting that his bones were clearly visible due to extreme loss of fat and muscle. He weighed only 10.9kg, having dropped 11.3kg since his previous check‑up in January.
McCarthy posted online saying how much she loved Chico, presenting herself as a devoted owner.
The RSPCA traced the microchip and contacted McCarthy. She acknowledged that she was responsible for Chico, despite the dog being registered under the name of her former partner, Omar Ahmed.
The vet concluded that Chico had been starved for at least a month before his death.
The District Judge said McCarthy had allowed the dog to waste away, though he accepted her pathetic excuse that she had financial difficulties and “feared being judged”.
Chico was full of love and trust, before his cruel owner decided to abandon him to waste away.
RSPCA Inspector Jemima Hanks‑Martin described the case as “horrible,” stressing that any responsible owner would have sought veterinary help. She added that financial hardship is never an excuse for allowing an animal to suffer and highlighted the RSPCA’s cost‑of‑living support services for pet owners who are struggling.
Sentencing | four‑month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 14 days of ‘rehabilitation’;100 hours of unpaid work; £150 in courts. Lifetime ban (the court issued a lifetime prohibition order, meaning she can never legally own or care for animals again).
CONVICTED (2026) | backyard breeder Matthew Mark Andrews, born 9 May 1995, of Henry Street, Neath SA11 1PG – for severe animal starvation and neglect, resulting in the euthanasia of a pregnant dog.
Matthew Andrews is banned from owning animals for a decasde following his callous neglect of a dog who died from extreme emaciation and a twisted intestine.
In an RSPCA prosecution case, prolific backyard breeder Matthew Andrews pleaded guilty to failing to address the severe weight loss, chronic skin infection, and deteriorating condition of five-year-old Shar Pei-cross, Pandora.
Pandora was extremely underweight with her spine and ribs clearly visible.
Vets found Pandora completely emaciated with a body condition score of one out of five. Her muscle wasting was so severe that an advanced, near-term pregnancy of seven to nine puppies went completely unnoticed until a medical scan was performed.
Pandora was found with severe muscle wasting, a skin infection, and an undetected near-term pregnancy.
Pandora underwent emergency surgery for a twisted intestine but had to be euthanised due to post-operative complications and her chronically weakened state, resulting in the loss of her unborn litter.
Greeder Andrees used social media to flog countless puppies.
Following sentencing, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Cooper said: “This is a very sad case with a tragic ending for Pandora and her puppies.
“All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met.”
Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of ‘rehabilitation’; £400 prosecution costs. Disqualified from owning or keeping any type of animal for 10 years (expires July 2036).
