CONVICTED (2023)| professional dog walker Pamela Fisher, born c. 1963, of Chaloners Road, Dringhouses, York YO24 2TN – caused the death of a dog by leaving him in her van during a heatwave.
Fisher pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering in relation to a cocker spaniel called Teddy, who died of heatstroke while in her care.
RSPCA prosecutor Phil Brown told the court that Fisher was “grossly negligent in her duty of care to Teddy. As a result of her negligence, unfortunately, the dog suffered and subsequently died.
“We cannot say how much the suffering was. It was extreme, though for a short time we hope.”
According to the Met Office, temperatures in the shade reached 33C in York that day.
Mr Brown said Teddy’s owner arranged for Fisher to collect the dog, walk him and return him home while she was at work on August 11, 2022.
But when she arrived home at 6.10pm, there was no sign of the dog.
She rang Fisher who confirmed she had taken Teddy with other dogs for a walk.
But when she took the other dogs back to their owners, “she had simply forgotten to take Teddy back. Teddy was left inside her van. She carried on with the rest of her day,” said Mr Brown. That had included going to her hairdressers.
By the time she realised her mistake it was too late.
The dog’s owner called in the RSPCA.
Interviewed by an RSPCA inspector, Fisher said she had a standard order for delivering the four dogs she walked that day to their homes. On that day, for some reason, the order was changed, which led to her forgetting to deliver Teddy.
She had run her dog walking business for seven and a half years but had now closed it for good.
A vet statement said: “It is my opinion that the likely cause of Teddy’s death was heat stroke. Dogs can develop heat stroke and die within an hour in hot weather. It is unknown how long and how quickly Teddy died. It is likely that Teddy will have suffered.”
Fisher’s lawyer handed in testimonials and other documents which led the judge to declare Fisher had an “impeccable” character. She had no previous convictions.
Mr Brown said the RSPCA had no concerns about the way Fisher looked after her own two dogs.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Claire Mitchell said: “Fisher had confirmed that she’d forgotten to drop Teddy off back at his owner’s and he’d been in the back of the van for five hours. The temperature that day was 30c.
“We hope this tragic case reminds people that the risk to the lives of animals is so high. Our message is simple: never leave a dog in a hot car – ‘not long’ is too long, and if you see a dog in a hot car, call 999 immediately.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement; £400 prosecution costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from transporting or dealing with dogs commercially for three years (expires March 2026).
And these are the people we trust with our pets! Obviously shopping and having her hair done were more important to her, this is such a terrible story, poor Teddy and his family, she should be banned for life.
If I was the Owner of that poor Dog.
I would personally take her to The Small Claims Court.
For What they had Paid For The Dog, and the Cost Of Vaccinations and Microchipping Vet Fees.
As well as the pure Neglect Inflicted To The Dog.