CONVICTED (2024) | Michael Jon Griffin and Jade Angharad Eatwell of Hector Avenue, Crumlin, Newport NP11 5HQ – failed to provide veterinary care for their puppy’s broken leg.
Michael Griffin and Jade Eatwell admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the beagle puppy named Narla by failing to give her adequate vet care and attention for her broken leg. The couple said the injury was sustained in an accident which the RSPCA accepted due to a lack of proof of foul play.
The couple were also found guilty of failing to protect the puppy from pain, suffering, injury, and disease due to lack of proper supervision.
The puppy was taken into the RSPCA’s care in September 2023 and received surgery and treatment at the charity’s Newbrook Animal Hospital.
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Black described meeting Narla on September 20, 2023.
She said: “When she saw me she got up and came towards me, and I saw immediately that she was not using her front left leg.”
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black said it was on 20 September last year when they attended the Hector Avenue property and met Narla – and was told she was around 16-17 weeks old.
She said: “When she saw me she got up and came towards me, and I saw immediately that she was not using her front left leg.
“She had a large fluffy sock on her front left leg that was on top of a bandage. Ms Eatwell explained to me that either on Sunday or Monday of that week she had fallen from a bedroom window and hurt her leg.
“She told me that she had not received any veterinary attention and that she had put the bandage on the leg to offer it some support.”
Gemma explained that Narla needed urgent veterinary attention and wished to take her to the vet immediately and Eatwell agreed and gave consent for her to receive anaesthetic, sedative, X-Rays and treatment as deemed necessary by the vet.
At the vets it was found that she had suffered a broken leg that required complex surgery and the following day after she was officially taken into possession by police and transferred to RSPCA Newbrook Animal Hospital where she was admitted for further treatment and surgery.
A witness statement from vet Jonathan Fitzmaurice revealed how he first saw Narla on September 20, 2023.
He described the puppy as 10/10 lame but still bright and alert.
After administering pain relief, X-rays confirmed a fracture in the humerus.
The vet concluded: “In my professional opinion this dog’s owner has failed in their duty of care by failing to seek veterinary attention for an animal that had obvious health and pain issues and by not seeking that attention has allowed the dog to suffer unnecessarily in their care for the length of time from falling out of the window until the inspector brought her to us.”
Narla, who has been renamed Bonnie, is now thriving in her new home. Her foster carers, who can now formally adopt her following the successful prosecution of her previous owners, said: “She has grown into the most loving adorable girl.
“She is complete chaos – a bundle of energy and love – who adores the beach!
“We can’t wait to ‘officially’ adopt her and take her on holiday later in the year – where she can spend all day running in the sand!”
Other animals under the ownership of Michael Griffin and Jade Eatwell have been placed under a seizure order.
Sentencing |
Eatwell received a 12-month community order, which includes 60 hours of unpaid work.
Griffin got a similar 12-month community order and was additionally ordered to pay a £120 fine.
They will each pay a total of £514 in costs and victim surcharge.
They are disqualified from keeping animals for the next 10 years (expires June 2034).