CONVICTED (2017) | Robert William Attfield, born 24/11/1953, and Cheryl Donaghue, born 27/05/1958, both of Sky End Lane, Hordle, Lymington SO41 0HG – for cruelty offences relating to two greyhounds
Attfield and Donaghue pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to greyhounds Glynn and Kayla.
RSPCA Inspector Tina Ward praised a member of the public who had tracked down the pair after one of the starving dogs managed to escape.
She said: “The woman who reported this to us is a real hero.She’s heard loud shouting outside her home and had spotted Glynn in her garden and was horrified to see that he was emaciated and could barely stand.
“She was trying to encourage him to come to her when Mr Attfield appeared and put him in a car and drove off.
Thankfully she had clocked his number plate and went searching for the car and asking neighbours if they knew who it belonged to.
“When she found the car outside their address she promptly reported them to the police and RSPCA.
“When I arrived at their home, what I saw was just horrendous. Glynn couldn’t stand and I could see his fur heaving with fleas. He had open sores that were down to the bone, including two large holes in his mouth through to the nasal cavity.
“Kayla was squeezed in beside the sofa and I could tell she just wasn’t right. The vet discovered serious problems with her teeth, 23 were missing and the remaining 19 were just held in with calculus.
“She was in great discomfort and had a hole from her mouth to her nasal cavity.
“Sadly Glynn had to be put to sleep because of the severity of his condition but Kayla is making a slow recovery. She had her remaining teeth removed and surgery to fix the hole in her mouth and is gaining weight.
“It’s unacceptable for animals to be left to suffer needlessly without the care they deserve.
“Mr Attfield struggled to accept any responsibility for the condition the dogs were in, initially denying the were anything to do with him, despite being responsible for their care two or three days each week.
“Ms Donaghue admitted she hadn’t made any attempt to seek veterinary treatment but had said she didn’t believe the dogs needed to see a vet.”
Seven-year-old Kayla was given into the care of the RSPCA where she was to continue her ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Sentencing: 12-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months. Donaghue must also carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and Attfield was ordered to pay a £250 fine. Both had to pay £120 in court costs. Both were banned from keeping animals for ten years.