CONVICTED (2021) Deborah ‘Debs’ Thomas of 3 Daisy Bank, Akeley, Buckingham MK18 5HW – caught on camera physically abusing a dog.
Ill-tempered Thomas, owner of a dog-walking business Doggy Day Care Akeley, was filmed rushing into her garden to berate a terrified rescue dog. She is shown picking the dog up and throwing him, causing him to slam onto the concrete ground. The matter was reported to the RSPCA by a concerned neighbour and Thomas was prosecuted.
On 17 September 2021 she was found guilty of two offences of duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare.
For the first offence she received a fine of £300, victim surcharge £34 and costs of £250.
The second offence was marked as ‘no separate penalty’.
She was not given a ban and it is not known if the dog she abused was returned to her.
CONVICTED (2020) | Louise Lawford, born 23/09/1971, previously of Eastern Road, Sutton Coldfield but as of March 2020 believed to be in Grendon, Atherstone, Warwickshire – for animal welfare offences relating to her pet-sitting business Pawford Paws
Professional dog sitter Louise Lawford claimed five dogs in her care ran off after being let off the lead in Hopwas Woods, Tamworth
In June 2019 five dogs, who became known as the ‘Tamworth Five’, went missing while in the care of Birmingham-based pet-sitting Louise Lawford. Lawford claimed that the dogs – Ralph, Charlie, Pablo, Maggie and Jack – had run off in Hopwas Woods near Tamworth, but no trace of them has ever been found.
No trace of the Tamworth Five has ever been found
In court, prosecutors rejected Lawford’s version of events but were unable to prove what had happened that day. Charges relating to the pets’ disappearance therefore had to be dropped.
Lawford was called a “dog killer” by someone in the public gallery, which the judge described as “outrageous”.
The court heard that Lawford had been placed in a position of trust and left customers anguished.
The fate of the Tamworth Five remains a mystery.
Some of the pets’ owners were in court to witness Lawford being sentenced.
“The dogs were never found, despite being chipped and there being extensive searches,” said Jonathan Barker, prosecuting, adding he did not accept Lawford’s account that the dogs got lost in the woods, but could not prove otherwise.
Speaking after the hearing, the dogs’ owners – who say they “know” their pets are dead – said they would take civil action against Lawford.
“It’s a positive outcome because the court just did not believe the dogs were lost,” one owner Becky Parsons said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
She said the past six months had been “an emotional rollercoaster” and that she was so upset at losing her dogs, Pablo and Maggie, that she “couldn’t face going back” to her house and has had to move.
The case, brought by Birmingham City Council, has attracted much attention on social media, and Lawford was called a “dog killer” when she left court briefly before sentencing.
Lawford was prosecuted for animal welfare offences unrelated to the disappearance of the five dogs
The former dog walker, who has already had her licence revoked by Birmingham City Council, admitted breaching conditions including limits on the number of dogs she boarded at any one time, boarding dogs from different homes, as well as failing to seek treatment for the dog with a skin condition.
Lawford’s defence said she expressed “extreme and continuing remorse for what happened to the dogs”.
“This is well-intentioned but incompetent care,” her legal representative Tom Walking said.
Lawford apologised for the pain owners of the missing dogs have suffered
Birmingham City Council welcomed the sentence, calling the case “unusual and upsetting”.
“Only Mrs Lawford knows the truth of what happened to the five beloved pets placed in her care,” said Vicky Allwood, the council’s senior animal welfare officer.
Her sentence means she will have to give up her elderly pet labrador.
Sentencing: fined £800 and ordered to pay costs of £2,616 and a victim surcharge of £80. Banned from owning dogs for five years (expires January 2025).
CONVICTED (2019) | pet sitter Claire Langford, aka Claire Curtis, born c. 1972, of The Orchard, Plemstall Lane, Mickle Trafford, Chester CH2 4EN – failed to take a badly injured Shih Tzu to the vet after he had been attacked by another dog.
Claire Curtis operated an illegal pet boarding business and failed to seek veterinary help for Shih-Tzu Blu after he was fatally injured by another dog
Claire Langford was paid to look after four-year-old Shih-Tzu Blu while his owners went on holiday – despite not having a licence for boarding facilities.
Then when Blu was seriously injured after being attacked by a boxer dog, Langford failed to contact a vet until after he had died.
Langford, who previously owned a kennels business and claimed to have been a judge at Crufts, pleaded guilty to keeping an animal boarding establishment without a licence. She was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal following a trial.
The court heard that Blu’s owner dropped off the dog the day before she was heading on her holiday as the family member she usually left the pet with was unwell.
It was later that same day that Blu died.
Langford had given four varying accounts of events surrounding the incident, which happened when she was out with her own dogs and Blu at Delamere Forest.
A vet pathologist said in court that Blu had numerous injuries and bite marks, which included a severe 13cm lesion around the neck.
The pathologist concluded Blu would have died about an hour after the attack, but it was clear veterinary assistance should have been sought as the injuries could clearly be seen.
In a victim impact statement, Blu’s devastated owner said: “This was the first time I had ever left Blu and I was very nervous.
“Blu was my baby boy; after 13 years of trying to start a family we agreed to put that heartache behind us. Blu gave us the most amazing four years but it should have been so much more. He brought me so much joy into my life. Blu was my world and meant everything to me.
“I feel lost without him; it kills me every day knowing I left him with those people.”
A probation report said Langford, who had no previous convictions, had received a visit from the RSPCA who said they had no issues.
She had a diploma in animal care and had looked after dogs her whole life, and had volunteered with the RSPCA.
She “thought the world of Blu” and the attack “broke her heart”.
Langford had a number of health issues, both physical and mental, including complications caused by having type two diabetes since the age of six.
Defending, Peter Barnett said Langford had run a kennels business until about 10 years ago due to her health, but would look after her own six dogs and friends’ dogs.
She was on Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments, while being cared for by her 18-year-old daughter.
Sentencing | ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to Blu’s owners and £1,500 in costs to the council. Six-month curfew. Banned from applying for an animal boarding premises licence for 10 years.
Following sentencing on April 30, 2019, Langford submitted an appeal against both her conviction and sentence – but withdrew her appeal against conviction two days before the hearing.
Appealing against her sentence, Langford claimed that the event was a one-off and that she was not operating a commercial enterprise, but this was rejected by the appeal judge.
During the appeal the judge said: “It must have been transparent this dog was poorly, you had received training. This dog suffered on any view serious and fatal injuries, and would have been displaying signs of ill health and distress.”
And referring to a recording of a phone conversation with a veterinary receptionist heard in court, he added: “It’s not simply a case of you not noticing the injury. This is a bad case. We heard the calm tone with which you spoke to the receptionist. She was far more upset than you were, for a dog you’d been paid to look after.”
However, taking into account Langford’s financial situation, the judge reduced the total amount payable by deleting the costs ordered.
The curfew was also reduced to one month and the curfew times altered.
CONVICTED (2019) | professional dog walker Jacqueline Wilkins, born c. 1972, of Dorset Grove, Pudsey, Leeds LS28 7EN – caught on CCTV abusing a customer’s pet
Professional dog walker Jacqui Wilkins was caught on camera terrorising one of the dogs she was meant to be looking after
Jacqui Wilkins, owner of dog-walking service Wilkins Walkies, was caught on camera striking boxer Bella twice and shouting at her repeatedly when the dog would not stay still long enough for her to remove her harness after a walk.
Petrified: Bella’s owner noticed changes in her pet’s behaviour during the time in the ‘care’ of professional dog walker Jacqui Wilkins
In footage captured on CCTV cameras inside the home of Bella’s owners Gary Hirtsch and Louise Williams, Wilkins can be heard shouting “You’re not doing as you’re told, are you?” and “Do you want another smack?”
Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard the couple had hired Wilkins when Miss Williams broke her wrist and was unable to walk Bella and their other dog, Coco.
Bella’s owners checked CCTV footage recorded in their home after noticing a change in the dog’s behaviour. They made a report to the RSPCA after seeing the footage.
Prosecutor Andrew Davidson said: “What you can see there is what the defendant now accepts was unnecessarily rough treatment. The prosecution say there’s very rarely any reason for using that type of behaviour to discipline a dog.”
Wilkins Walkies is happily defunct .
Wilkins admitted failing to meet the needs of a dog by protecting it from injury or distress. She had initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea following expert evidence about the psychological damage Bella may have suffered.
A separate charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal was dismissed.
Magistrates were told that Wilkins had experienced a “moment of madness” and felt she was disciplining Bella at the time, but now recognised her behaviour was wrong.
The court heard she was of previous good character and had told her clients about the case, prompting a number to write references and two of them to attend court in support.
A probation officer also reported that Wilkins had reflected on the harm she may have caused Bella and was “completely remorseful” about her actions.
Dog abuser Jacqueline Wilkins
Speaking afterwards, Mr Hirtsch said: “I feel relieved. We had put her in a position of trust. I think they’ve done the right thing for the safety of the other dogs.”
He said Bella’s behaviour had changed significantly following the incident, adding: “Bella was so friendly, but then she was reluctant to go out. She used to cower on the sofa.
Wilkins was visibly upset as she left the courtroom after being told that she would not be allowed to keep her own dog, Bentley, during the two-year ban.
Friend and client Janet Pearson said: “Obviously she’s not going to have an income now but the thing she’s most upset about is losing her dog. Her dog is like her baby.
“I think the court has made an example of her. If I thought she didn’t care and was cruel, clearly there’s no way she would look after mine. It’s not just a business to her though. Dogs are her life.
“She’s worried about her clients too. What are they going to do?”
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and an RSPCA education programme; total of £385 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping or caring for any dogs for two years – later reduced on appeal to just three months (expired).
CONVICTED (2018) | professional dog walker Helen J Campbell, born c. 1958, of 97 Netherton Road, Anniesland, Glasgow G13 1LJ – left eight dogs in a hot van causing two of them to lose their lives
Milly lost her life after being left in a van for three hours during a heatwave by professional dog walker Helen Campbell from Anniesland, Glasgow
Campbell, who owned a dog walking business named nose2tailk9care, locked eight dogs in a van for three hours during a heatwave. This resulted in two – Milly and Cody – dying. Three other dogs were hospitalised and three others fell ill.
The temperature inside the van is thought to have been as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 21C.
Instead of telling owners what had happened to their dogs, Campbell repeatedly changed her story which resulted in some animals receiving the wrong treatment from vets.
In court Campbell admitted causing the dogs unnecessary suffering by leaving them in her van for a prolonged period of time without proper ventilation. and failing to seek necessary veterinary treatment.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Scottish SPCA Inspector Gillian Dick said, “This is a heart-breaking example of why dogs should not be left in hot cars.
“The van was a totally unsuitable environment for dogs to be kept, especially on such a hot day. The dogs were left alone for two and a half to three hours which is unacceptable.
“Campbell did not inform the owners as to what had happened to their dogs which resulted in dogs receiving the wrong treatment. Had Campbell been truthful more appropriate treatment would have been given and prevented the situation being made worse.
“The temperature inside the van is likely to have reached at least 40 degrees centigrade. These conditions would be difficult for even a human to cope with never mind a dog that can’t sweat, as they have no sweat glands in the majority of their skin surface. The main way for a dog to cool down is through panting, which is much less effective than sweating and makes a dog much more prone to heat stroke.
“As a dog begins to overheat it will become very weak, have an increased heart rate and blood circulation which leads to dizziness and ultimately the dog will collapse and lose consciousness.
“Even in cases where dogs do not die, they can suffer from long term illness and the experience is extremely distressing.
Sentencing: 176 hours of community service. 20-year ban on owning, keeping, transporting or working with all animals.
