CONVICTED (2015) | Nicole Dorothy Ambler, born 29 May 1995 and former partner, Billy Joe Hartley (aka Kaspa Hartley), born 11 October 1991, both previously of Luton Street, Keighley* – left a dog to waste away to skin and bone and close to death.
The RSPCA found the dog Raggs in a devastating condition, concealed under a blanket, after responding to an emergency call at the Luton Street address of a heavily pregnant Nicole Ambler and former partner Billy Joe Hartley.
Giving evidence to the court, RSPCA inspector Natalie Taylor, said: “We received a call regarding a collapsed dog at the property in question. It came through as a high priority case of neglect.
“When I reached the property I knocked on the door and I was met by Nicole who showed me Raggs who was laid on the floor covered in a blue blanket.
“I asked Nicole to remove the blanket and I was shocked at the condition of the dog. I could see the ribs and bones and he was not very responsive, but I knew he needed taking to a vet.
“Nicole said she went shopping the previous day and it was her sister that found him collapsed in the kitchen.
“The dog couldn’t stand up on his own or lift his head. I had to physically wrap him in the blanket and carry him out.
“On looking at the dog, the fact that he couldn’t lift or move his head meant he couldn’t access food or water that was inches from where he was lying.
“As I was carrying him out he was lifeless and was lolling his head out. I didn’t think he would make it.
“He was extremely underweight. I could see all his spine, ribs and hip bones. He kept throwing his head back and was dehydrated.
“The next day I saw Raggs and he was able to prop his head up but was kept on a drip until January 13.”
Ms Taylor told the court that the couple’s other dog ‘Mo’ had also been underweight but otherwise had been “bright and active”. Mo was signed over to the RSPCA.
The vet that cared for Raggs – who was around 12-18 months old at the time – after he was taken by the RSPCA, Dr Lara Clarkson, told the court: “Any responsible member of the public would have known something was wrong.
“If you get to the stage of dehydration where you are unable to lift your head up that is a very obvious sign something is wrong, even for someone who is not medically trained.
“I think he would have been dead by morning if he had not been medically treated. One of my receptionists questioned if he was alive when he first came in he was that lifeless.”
Sentencing: Hartley and Ambler were ordered to carry out 150 and 200 hours of unpaid community service respectively. Both were banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires August 2025).
2021 update
Ambler and Hartley are no longer together.
Ambler now lives in Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe, Bradford BD10 0JN
Hartley now goes by the first name Kaspa and has moved to Bristol. His last known address as of mid-2021 was in Mow Barton, Bishopsworth BS13 8DW
Another Scum Pair. Starving an Animal.
I hope they look after the Little Baby they are pictured with on Face Book, better than they did that poor little Dog.
Social Services need to keep a close eye on the Baby, as they are not even capable of feeding a little dog.