CONVICTED (2015) | Jodi Russell, aka Jodi Palmer, born 1986, previously of Hillwood Road, Halesowen, Dudley B62 – failed to care for her two starving dogs – with one dying as a result of her neglect.
Mother-of-four Jodi Russell callously starved the two Staffies inside a cage while gorging on takeaways in front of them.
Horrified RSPCA inspectors found the lifeless dogs inside urine-soaked cages in the living room of Russell’s home while her children played around them.
Disturbing photographs of the emaciated animals showed their ribs and other bones protruding through their coats.
One of the dogs, called Storm, was described as the thinnest a vet had ever seen and he tragically died within 24 hours of being rescued.
The other starving dog – a female who was given the lowest possible condition rating by vets – miraculously survived and was later re-homed.
Russell was convicted in August 2013 of causing unnecessary suffering to the animals and failing in her duty as owner.
The single mum, who boasted on social media of being a fan of Channel 4 series Shameless, failed to turn up to court for her trial and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
She was eventually tracked down and hauled to court.
During her trial, magistrates were told RSPCA officials went to Russell’s home in October 2012 following a tip-off that the dogs were being mistreated.
When questioned by inspectors, she claimed one of the animals was dead – and said they could not come into her home because she hadn’t broken the news to her children.
Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said: “The inspector pressed and was invited in. Inside the property he saw the dogs in the living room in cages with the children running around them.
“She pointed out the dark male dog and said he was dead. The inspector noticed it was still alive and barely breathing.
“It was like a skeleton. The other dog was in a similar curled-up way and was lifeless.”
When interviewed, Russell claimed she had taken one dog to the PDSA – but without benefit paperwork she was unable to get him looked at.
Disgusted neighbours said that Jodi had never worked and spent her days eating junk food.
One man said: “I think it’s disgusting. She should have got 20 years for what she did, never mind five. If it was up to me she would have been horse-whipped.
“She was always eating junk food and that type of stuff.”
One woman added: “I always thought she was a jovial woman and okay to speak to. But this has really shocked me when I saw the photos of those poor dogs.
“To just leave a dog in a cage to not eat is disgusting. I definitely won’t speak to her again when she’s out of prison.
“She’s quite a big girl. They are always having takeaways delivered and there’s junk food rubbish in their garden.
“It’s ironic that she’s a big one and stuffs herself but couldn’t even feed the poor dogs. There’s always takeaway food going in the house.”
Sentence: 20 weeks in jail. Lifetime ban on looking after animals or being associated with them in any way.
Absolutely Heart Breaking.
The Fat Face, Double Thinned Fatty. Could have Fed them some of her own food. How the hell can you deliberately Starve Something To Death. Especially when you are spending so much Money on Take Away Meals for yourself.
A Large 15kg Bag Of Dry Dog Food from the Supermarket would have kept them to Dogs for Weeks, for about £10.
I honestly think she should be in a Mental Institution. I feel sorry for the Children, for being unlucky enough to have a Mother such as this. Absolutely shocking.