#MostEvil | Steven Hartley, born 16 December 1982, of 61 Halifax Road, Staincliffe, Dewsbury WF13 4AZ – moved out of a property leaving his pets behind to starve to death
Hartley was banned from keeping all animals for life after he abandoned a dog and a snake, both of whom starved to death. The emaciated body of Rottweiler Freya was found in the basement kitchen of the property. while the decomposed remains of a snake called Eight Ball were found in an unheated tank in the living room.
The RSPCA was called to the address on Calder Road, Dewsbury on March 9, 2017 after the landlord went to evict Hartley and found the body of Freya in a basement kitchen full of faeces.
Inspector Gemma Fowler was sent to the scene and told how she struggled to open the basement kitchen door because of the piles of faeces behind where Freya’s body was found.
She said in her statement: “The floor was completely covered in faeces. So much so, that I couldn’t say what the actual floor was made of. It was basically a carpet of faeces.
“I walked through this and over to the dog. I could see that she was deceased and was also in poor bodily condition.
“I can only describe her as being skin and bones. I could pretty much see her entire skeleton through her fur and she was covered in flies and other insects.
“The claws on all of her feet were also overgrown. I looked around the room and could see that there were two bowls on the floor but both of these were empty.
“There were a number of bags of dog food on the worktops but these were also empty. I could not see any food or water available in the room.”
Inspector Fowler removed the bodies of both pets and they were taken for a post mortem examination. The vet concluded both were emaciated but the snake’s body was too decomposed to ascertain a cause of death.
Freya weighed just 10kg – a third of her ideal expected weight.
The vet considered the post mortem report and concurred that the likely cause of death was a combination of malnutrition and lack of water. She provided an opinion that the dog suffered for weeks prior to her death.
Inspector Fowler tracked down Hartley to another address in the area and during interview he admitted owning the pets and being responsible for them. He claimed the snake had died before he moved out of the property, however, and as he was being evicted he had nowhere to take Freya.
In mitigation, the court was told Hartley had a very difficult family upbringing and had alcohol problems at the time of the offence.
Sentencing: 16-week custodial sentence for both offences suspended for a year; 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £300 in costs. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
We all know how hard life can treat us, and with people facing eviction and homelessness. Please there is absolutely no need for this. If you have to leave your premises and your Pet Is Left In The House Empty. At least Phone the RSPCA or even Send A Letter Recorded Delivery, Explaining What You Have Been Forced To Do. Leave a Couple Of Bowls Of Water For Your Pet. That way at least your Pet will only be left for a day or two. There is absolutely no need to leave a Pet To Starve To Death. If you are that desperate, Tie it to the Gates of a Rescue, or shove it through the door of a Vets. At least it won’t be forced to suffer, if the worst should happen.
How the hell can you leave something to starve to death.