CONVICTED (2015) | Ayshea A Marshall, aka AysheaTebbett, born 29 December 1974, of St Catherines Mews, Scunthorpe DN16 2NE – left her flea-infested pet dog with a tight rubber band around his muzzle for as long as two weeks

Mother-of-five Ayshea Marshall admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after she failed to notice the rubber band around her grey crossbreed dog’s nose for 10 to 14 days.

RSPCA prosecutor Rachel Taylor told the court that Marshall took the dog, called Haribo, to the vets in May 2014 because she was “concerned about the smell coming from him and could see a chronic deep wound around his mouth”.

Haribo had to be sedated while the vet cut the fur from around his nose.

Miss Taylor said: “The band had been wrapped around his muzzle twice. It cut through the flesh and had been there for 10 to 14 days.

“Whoever placed the band over his muzzle had caused him unnecessary suffering and stress.”

Haribo was also infested with fleas, the court heard.

Miss Taylor said the vet contacted the RSPCA who interviewed Marshall.
Marshall said she took him to the vet when she noticed the smell, but she believed it would clear up and did not notice the injury.

Marshall denied knowing who had put the band on Haribo’s muzzle and said it must have happened when he “got out a month ago”.

Asking the magistrates to look at the photos of Haribo’s muzzle, Miss Taylor said: “It’s an unreasonable claim that she failed to notice the band on his nose.”

Marshall refused to sign Haribo over to the RSPCA before the first hearing, but did at a later date.

Marshall’s ex husband Luke Marshall was prosecuted separately for Haribo’s suffering. He too was given a community service and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Sentence: ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £1,393 towards court and RSPCA costs. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expired 2020).

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