CONVICTED (2023)| Kayley Elizabeth Patricia Pugh, aka Kayley Shellam, born 25 July 1999, currently of Llandysul, Ceredigion, but with links to the towns of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest – for the cruel abandonment of eight reptiles entrusted to her care.
Pugh, a mother-of-three, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to leopard geckos Thor, Luna and Thora and a Chinese crested water dragon called Maverick.
The court heard that the owner of the reptiles had asked Pugh to look after them for a period of time, but when they went to collect them on 27 August 2022, four reptiles were dead – four others were still alive.
In a written statement presented to the court, inspector Keith Hogben, said he was shown several vivariums which had been collected from an address in Alltwalis, Carmarthen.
“I looked into the vivariums and was informed when they were found there was no water for the reptiles and no heat,” he said.
One vivarium contained two dead leopard geckos, Thor and Luna, and another vivarium contained a Chinese water dragon named Maverick who was also dead.
Another vivarium contained a crested gecko named Oryx who was found dead. Two emerald swifts named Bow and Arrow, a leopard gecko named Thor and a bearded dragon called Hoggle were all found alive.
A written statement from a veterinary surgeon, who examined the dead and living reptiles, said the four dead reptiles had “advanced states of decomposition” which “indicates that no daily care had been provided to these animals”.
Fly eggs were noted in the oral cavity and on the skin of two carcasses.
Thor, Luna and Maverick were all described to be of an “emaciated condition”, while crested gecko Oryx was presented as a “mummified carcass” which meant it was not possible for an internal examination.
In the vet report it was concluded that “the three animals as evidenced by their emaciated body conditions, low weights relative to body length and absence of food in their digestive systems are highly likely to have died from starvation, either because food provision was inadequate or absent or because the animals were in poor health and had become inappetent.”
In relation to leopard gecko Thora, the vet said that due to her “poor condition and ocular infection and superficial skin injuries [she ] had in my opinion been subjected to unnecessary suffering for a number of weeks”.
Sadly soon after coming into RSPCA care Thora died.
Following sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “This is a very sad case where these deaths were completely avoidable if they had been given the proper care.
“RSPCA urges potential owners – or those given responsibility for these animals – to research and look into what is required in the care of their exotic pet first before taking one on so they know what is involved.”
Sentencing | 12 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, 150 hours unpaid work, 12 rehab days with probation, £400 costs £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all mammals and reptiles for 10 years.