CONVICTED (2022) | Kenneth George Thomas, born 20 April 1964, and Denise Kimberley Warner, born 21 June 1973, of 2 Hazel Terrace, Perthcelyn, Mountain Ash CF45 3HJ – for cruelty to their two dogs found starving in the garden of their home.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Staffies Sheba and Vinnie by failing to provide sufficient nutrition for their needs.

In a witness statement, RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said she attended Hazel Terrace on 8 December 2021 and could see the two dogs in the back garden. They had no shelter and were shivering.

Inspector Cooper spoke with the defendants and explained that the dogs were in very poor body condition and that they needed to go to the vets.

Thomas and Warner agreed to transfer the ownership of Sheba to the RSPCA but did not give permission to move Vinnie.

Inspector Cooper said: “As I walked back down to the rear of the garden, Sheba was still outside all hunched up, although they had let Vinnie inside out of the cold.

“When she did walk she appeared weak and had little muscle coverage over her back end. I could see every rib and every vertebrae along her spine.

“I placed a lead over Sheba and she refused to walk so I bent down to pick her up. As I carried her to the van I could feel her still shivering and as I placed her in my van I provided her with a hot water bottle which she immediately curled up around.”

Sheba was taken to a vet who said she was suffering due to lack of food – there was no food in her stomach and had no muscle.

Inspector Cooper later returned to Hazel Terrace with police, with officers seizing Vinnie.

Vinnie was examined by a veterinary surgeon who stated that he was very underweight but had slightly more muscle mass to him than Sheba. He also had a skin condition probably caused by parasites.

Both dogs were taken to RSPCA’s clinic in Merthyr Tydfil where they were given parasite treatment.

Ownership of Vinnie has been transferred to the RSPCA, who will now rehome him. Sheba has already been successfully rehomed.

Sentencing | ordered to pay a total of £634 each. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires April 2027).

Wales247