CONVICTED (2023) | Rebecca Dowbenko aka Beki Sanderson, born c. 1970, of Fairfax Road, Cullingworth, Bradford BD13 4JQ – showed no remorse after leaving her dog with rotting skin.
Dowbenko admitted failing to get much-needed veterinary treatment for one of her dogs, Lily. The nine-year-old Newfoundland was suffering from serious facial and rib injuries as well as other health issues.
The dog’s face was swollen and septic with infected sores and pus as a result of either suffering blunt force trauma to the head or the growth of a tumour. The canine’s skin tissue was rotting away, which left a “horrific” smell, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby said.
Lily was also suffering from severe skin disease, rib swelling and lung injury, chronic arthritis and spondylosis – none of which had been effectively treated by Dowbenko.
She was also found covered in paint, which Dowbenko said had rubbed off from a wet wall.
The court was told that Lily was first presented to the PDSA with a skin disease, described as “dreadful” in 2017.
Staff told Dowbenko Lily would need to be seen again in follow-up appointments, but she was not taken back to the vets for these visits.
The dog was taken to the PDSA on further occasions, including in late 2021, but Dowbenko never followed up on suggestions from the vets at the charity.
The court heard that when the RSPCA visited Dowbenko’s home in Fairfax Road on January 4, 2022, Lily was in a very poor state of health and it appeared she had been deteriorating for several months.
The dog was in terrible pain and she was taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment, but the prognosis for her was so poor she had to be put to sleep.
In a statement to the court inspector Demi Hodby said: “Lily had a very large, swollen face and mouth. Her face was oozing with pus and infection. She was lethargic and when she walked it appeared like she was having to think and calculate in her head each of her steps.
“She was in poor body condition and due to the infection Lily smelt horrifically. She spent most of her time during the visit lying on the floor subdued and lethargic. I asked [Dowbenko] if the dog was under veterinary treatment and she said she had not been to the vets but was going to call them that day.”
A vet concluded there was a “significant probability” that Lily’s injuries were not accidental, although the facial damage may also have been caused by a cancerous tumour.
A post-mortem showed she was suffering from osteomyelitis, with evidence of dead bone on the left side of the face, as well as chest trauma. She was also suffering from a rare form of dermatitis.
They said: “It is my opinion that Lily was allowed to suffer due to her owner failing to present her for timely veterinary assessment and treatment of multiple, serious health conditions despite acknowledging the dog was in pain for prolonged periods.”
The vet noted that the defendant failed to follow up a call to a PDSA clinic highlighting a burst abscess on the side of the dog’s face in November 2021.
RSPCA prosecutor Mr Brown told the court: “The dog was clearly suffering and was in obvious pain, suspected to be caused by blunt trauma.
“The animal became blind as the facial swelling grew.
“It was not clear when the injuries had been occasioned – there were signs of blunt force trauma within a minimum of six weeks, but could have developed over a number of months.”
Philip Cockroft, defending Dowbenko, said: “The is a lady 53 years of age who has no previous convictions to her name.
“The allegation is that this lady failed to obtain the necessary veterinary care for an animal she accepts she was responsible for.
“She finds it very hard to accept this, she would say she is a very caring person, and the animal that had to be destroyed is one she had from a puppy until the age of nine.
“Human beings benefit from the NHS, but for someone on benefits a single visit to the vets eats up a huge amount of benefits.
“She herself suffers from arthritis and severe anxiety. She doesn’t believe in taking medicine to help her, and it would seem to some extent that she extends her feelings in this respect to animals in her care – not because she doesn’t love these animals, but because she does things in her own way.”
Having considered all of the evidence including probation reports, Chair of the bench Vicky Reynolds noted that Dowbenko continued to deny causing any suffering to Lily and hadn’t shown any remorse.
Ms Reynolds told her: “Lily was left in pain and suffering for a long period of time. There was totally negligent treatment at an early stage.”
Sentencing | 12 weeks in custody with half to be served on licence. Disqualified from owning any animal for 10 years with a deprivation order on her other pets (ban expires May 2033).