CONVICTED (2014) | Ann Marie Nash, born 02/11/1975, previously of Chester Road, Erdington, Birmingham but more recently (2020) of Gladstone Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3EY- for cruelty to an emaciated bulldog found dying in a gutter
Qualified veterinary nurse Nash admitted locking the dog, named Martha, out of her house.
Martha was found lying near a gutter in Erdington in July 2013 and was rushed to a vet by a member of the public.
An examination marked her as 1.5 out of 5 on the body mass index chart and found a football-sized blockage of bones in the abdomen and toe nails that were growing into the tissue of her paws.
Nothing could be done to save the stricken dog and Birmingham City Council launched an investigation into how the bulldog got into such an appalling state.
The court was told that Nash was traced because Martha had been micro chipped; Nash had adopted the dog the year before from a charity specialising in rehoming British Bulldogs.
Admitting an animal cruelty charge, Nash told Birmingham Magistrates that she had lost her job and had been forced to rely on food bank handouts to feed herself; she said she was also suffering from depression.
Nash, who had previously fostered abandoned animals, said she was “extremely remorseful” for what she had done.
A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council, said: “This sad case highlights how important it is for people to look after their pets and that they owe them a duty of care.
“While many pet owners love their animals and take good care of them, ensuring they are well fed and maintained, there are some who do not understand their responsibility, and unfortunately our dog wardens are seeing more of these kinds of cases.
“This is why it’s so important to highlight what can happen to the owner, as well as their pet, if they are neglected or disowned, and the judge was very clear that Ms Nash will go to prison if she breaks the terms of her sentence.”
Sentence: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year; 100 hours’ community service, 12-month supervision order, £200 court costs, £80 victim surcharge. Five-year ban (expired 2019).
If you Cannot keep them, you have a duty to Rehome them. They cannot suffer in this way, its absolutely heartbreaking.
I have no sympathy for this owner. She had depression, but that will never be a valid excuse for treating an animal like this.