CONVICTED (2020) | Maria Fletcher aka Maria Blake, born 28/03/1981, of Taylor Close, Ossett WF5 0SY – left one of her dogs with a chronic untreated skin condition

Maria Fletcher was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to her 12-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Charlie, which was proved in her absence.

The court heard that RSPCA inspector Kris Walker was called to Fletcher’s home on May 3, 2020, where he found six dogs being kept in a messy garden, and was concerned for a white Staffordshire bull terrier who appeared to have fur loss and sore skin.

Inspector Walker said: “Charlie had hair loss from her middle downwards and was a little reddened but not scabby. Her owner, Ms Fletcher, said she’d run out of shampoo to treat it and that she was registered at a local vet. I issued a warning notice and asked her to clean up the garden and take Charlie to the vets.

“More than three weeks later I contacted the local clinic she claimed to use and they told me they had no dog of that name from that address registered with them. I tried another local vet who also didn’t have Charlie’s records.

“I returned to the house in Taylor Close but there was no reply at the door. I returned the following day and, again, the following week.

“When Ms Fletcher answered the door she was abrasive and yelled in my face that Charlie had been to the vets. But she was clearly balding, reddened and very itchy so she gave me permission to take her to see a vet.”

Vets determined that Charlie was suffering from a chronic, untreated skin condition and police attended to seize her and place her into the care of the RSPCA.

Inspector Walker said: “Vets found her skin was scurfy and thickened, and she had a large patch of alopecia. It smelt very yeasty and Charlie was extremely itchy.

“They prescribed some medication and a follow-up appointment one month later showed that her skin and fur were both looking really healthy, and she’d even put on some weight.”

Despite 15 separate attempts, Inspector Walker was unable to arrange an interview with Fletcher.

He said: “As Ms Fletcher refused to cooperate with our investigation or sign Charlie over into our care we felt it was necessary to take the case to court in order to seek a disqualification order to ensure Charlie would not return to the home and to prevent any further neglect of her or the other dogs.”

There were no welfare concerns for her remaining five dogs – all French bulldogs – but she said she was struggling to cope with them so two were signed over into the RSPCA’s care. She claims the remaining dogs have all been rehomed.

Charlie went to RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District branch where she spent some time recovering and spent her days in the office with staff.

Although her skin recovered well, her fur never grew back fully.

She was placed with a foster family who have since decided to formally adopt her. The family say she loves going for long walks, visiting the seaside and has really come out of her shell.

Sentencing: £150 in costs; three-year disqualification order keeping all animals (expires December 2023).

Wakefield Express