CONVICTED (2014) | Suzanna ‘Sue’ Falconer, born 29 June 1973, and Raymond Spires, born c. 1990, of Albert Avenue, West Hull HU3, for neglecting banned breed dog; dog put to sleep on BSL grounds; Falconer in breach of animal ban for starving 13 pet rats to death.

Tia had to be put to sleep after RSPCA inspectors found her at the home where Suzanna Falconer lived with her partner Raymond Spires.

The dog was suffering from a skin condition and was later found to be a pit bull, a breed banned in the UK.

Falconer, who was banned from keeping animals for five years in 2012 after starving 13 rats to death, pleaded guilty to breaching her disqualification order and failing to meet Tia’s needs.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA takes breaches of disqualification orders very seriously.

“Unfortunately, in this case, it is clear that no lessons had been learnt by Falconer, despite a disqualification from keeping animals.

“She not only breached the terms of the court order but sadly went on to fail to give Tia the care she needed.”

Spires also pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of Tia and aiding and abetting the breach of Falconer’s disqualification order.

Falconer was originally banned from keeping animals for five years after neglecting a rabbit called Bugsy, three ferrets and 13 rats and for causing unnecessary suffering to a hedgehog at her previous home in Downing Grove, east Hull.

The rats were found dead in cages in the shed having been starved to death.

The hedgehog had been kept in captivity and was emaciated.

Falconer had not fed the ferrets properly or protected them from pain, injury, disease and suffering.

Her partner at the time Andrew Gill, was also convicted of the same offences and went on to be banned for a further 20 years after he left his four dogs without food and water or bedding.

RSPCA inspectors and police raided Gill’s house again in September 2013 where they found 20 fish, a corn snake, two Staffordshire bull terriers called Zane and Patch, two terriers called Dufus and Meg, two cats and six kittens.

Dufus and Meg were confined to the kitchen and had been eating out of the bin.

Zane and Patch were found in the rubbish-strewn garden, where there was broken glass jars, rusty metal tins and exposed metal chair springs.

Sentencing |
Falconer: eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, £350 costs, £80 victim surcharge.
Spires: 80 hours of unpaid work, £350 costs and £60 victim surcharge.
Both were banned from keeping animals for seven years (expired November 2021) .

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