CONVICTED (2017) | Ilisha Horner, born c. 1989, of Kinross Avenue, Middlesbrough TS3 0DL – left two shih-tzu dogs on the brink of starvation
Mother-of-four Horner was prosecuted by the RSPCA after her pets were found starved and soaked in urine.
The skeletal dogs – who had badly infected claws – were rescued by the RSPCA after they were found in their owner’s filthy home without food or water.
Horner locked the dogs, named Tilly and Missy, in the kitchen where they were forced to live in their own urine and faeces while she went out for hours.
She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs between August and September 2016.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard how an animal welfare officer went to the Park End home and found Tilly and Missy “extremely underweight”.
They also had matted coats and smelt of urine despite Horner telling the inspector there was “nothing wrong” with her pets.
John Ellwood, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “Both dogs were found to have prominent bones and matted coats covered in sticky material.
“Their coats were also matted with urine and faeces.”
Tilly was emaciated and had an infected right hind claw, caused by the claw becoming embedded into her pad.
Mr Ellwood added: “Missy also had a heavily matted, urine stained coat and she smelt offensively.
“Her claws were also overgrown and were in danger of embedding.”
“Both were emaciated due to the lack of food and the condition of the dogs was a result of the lack of care from their owner. They had clearly been neglected for a prolonged period.”
Mr Ellwood added that both dogs have since been nursed back to full health and are currently being fostered.
Horner admitted she was struggling to care for the dogs, which she had bought around two years earlier.
A probation report stated read to the court stated: “The defendant says things had become difficult. She was pregnant and suffering with morning sickness.
“Her partner then left for a short period and she was therefore on her own with three children, pregnant and struggling.
“She knows it wasn’t right to keep them in the kitchen but she could not face going back and dealing with the situation.”
“She is aware she should have asked for help.”
Sentencing: three-year conditional discharge. £300 costs. Banned from keeping animals for just three years (expired February 2020).