CONVICTED | mother and son Susan Shaw, born 10 April 1964, and Jack Wynne, born 13 November 1993, of Blakehall, Skelmersdale WN8 9AZ – starved one dog to death and seriously neglected another.
The body of French bulldog Gucci was found in a mummified state in the bath. She weighed just 3.5kg – around a third of the average weight of a healthy dog of her breed.
Officers then found Violet, who was severely dehydrated and malnourished. At 7.6kg she was also significantly underweight.
The dogs’ feeding bowls were dry and there was no water for them.
An expert vet witness said in a statement read to the court that Violet “was shaking and when offered water drank it quickly.”
A second vet who examined Violet found that she was underweight and had issues with her eyes and skin.
Within three months of vet treatment she gained over 3kg (6.6lb) in weight and her eyes and skin started to improve.
Shaw and Wynne pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences each.
A snake and a fish were also found at the property and were signed over to the RSPCA’s care.
Sentencing |
Shaw: 26-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Wynne: three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. They were both ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
Both are banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Only what I’ve said before and that is the disgrace of the law. What is the point of bringing these cases to trial – expensive trial, if all they do is to hand out the pathetic reprimands that are given. If the law is not fit for purpose then why is there no concerted effort to change it. Thank God for these cruelty files that record these matters and at least make is aware of who we are living next to and would imagine they are of use to Rescues when re – homing. When, and how can we bring change.