CONVICTED (2018) | Jack Henry Kavanagh, born c. 1991, and wife Danielle Kavanagh, born c. 1992, both of Sutton Way, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port CH65 – starved one dog to death with another found emaciated at their home.
Jack and Danielle Kavanagh pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to border collies Freddie and Harvey by failing to provide adequate nutrition, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Harvey sadly had to be put to sleep as he weighed just seven kilos. Freddie was found in the nick of time by RSPCA officers and has now been placed with a loving family.
RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said: “This was a very distressing case to have dealt with and one that will remain with me for a long time.
“Starving animals to the extent we have seen in this instance is just appalling and hard to comprehend.”
The animal charity was alerted to the dogs’ plight by a concerned member of the public who had spotted them.
Animal Welfare Officer John Littlewood attended the address and was told that one of the dogs, Harvey, had died that morning and was at the vets.
It was confirmed that two-year-old Harvey had collapsed and was severely emaciated when he was taken to the vets by the owners. He had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
Inspector Joynes was called in to investigate and visited the property to find Freddie, who weighed 11 kilos, still alive in the back garden. A healthy two-year-old border collie should weigh between 19 and 24 kilos.
He said: “I remember seeing him and thinking he was the skinniest alive dog that I had ever dealt with. There was no muscle mass to him, he was all skin and bones.”
Insp Joynes took Harvey’s body from the vets for a post mortem, which revealed there was no underlying health problem that would have caused Harvey’s emaciation. This meant it was due to starvation.
Insp Joynes added: “It was really heart-breaking to see poor Harvey. As I lifted his body from the vets for evidence, he weighed absolutely nothing. Freddie didn’t weigh much more so I’m so glad we were able to reach him in time.”
Insp Joynes added: “District Judge Sanders stated that the Kavanaghs had caused both dogs to suffer a great deal and that the pair had let their animals down badly. He said that they had to learn to take responsibility for their actions or lack of action as in this instance.
“I’ll never forget being shown a large, unopened bag of dog food by Mrs Kavanagh as part of her suggestion that the dogs were being fed adequately. This investigation has shown that this was simply not the case and it is a cause of great sadness for me that poor Harvey did not make it.”
Freddie’s recovery was slow as he needed to be fed small amounts as his stomach had shrunk. Over the next few weeks he started to put on weight and now is living in a new home.
Insp Joynes added: “It is fantastic to see Freddie looking so healthy and to know he is now in a loving home. It could have been such a different story, as it was for poor Harvey. Freddie, however has made a miraculous recovery and now lives with a loving family.
“I’ve recently been made aware that he now has his own passport and will be going on holiday to France with his new family in the near future which is just lovely.”
Sentencing: Both were sentenced to 12-weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. They were each ordered to pay £250 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge. Both were banned from keeping all animals for 10 years (expires April 2028).