CONVICTED (2023) | Joseph Timbs, born May 2003, of Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1HN – abandoned a bearded dragon with no heating, light, water or food in a flea-infested flat.
The exotic pet known as Spike was emaciated and could have been left for TWO months in the flat after his heartless owner, Joe Timbs, moved out. Spike was “pale and very underweight”. He was in a collapsed state with his muscles “wasting away”.
The RSPCA visited the property in November 2022 to carry out an animal welfare check after receiving a report from a concerned member of the public.
RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws said: “When I arrived at the property, no-one answered the door. I called Mr Timbs who told me that he had moved out a couple of weeks ago, but had left his pet bearded dragon – named Spike – there. I was very concerned for the welfare of the abandoned animal.
“When the landlord’s agent let me into the property to check on the bearded dragon, it seemed darker and colder inside than it was outside as there was no light or heating. Once the power was switched on, I found the little animal in a vivarium.
“There was no food or water available, the flat was infested with fleas and there was an open box of live locusts loose in the property. Poor Spike appeared pale and very underweight – I could easily see his hips, ribs and spine and I could also make out the bone structure of his head. His eyes were almost closed and at that point, I believed he was dead.
“He felt very cold, but miraculously, when I touched him, he did slightly open his eyes, so I rushed him to a vet.”
The vet thoroughly examined Spike and found him in very poor condition; he had collapsed and was emaciated – weighing only 160g (5.6oz). She reported that the animal’s muscles were wasting away with the bones of the skull, spine, pelvis and tail clearly visible and that Spike could have been suffering for two months.
The little reptile was admitted to the veterinary surgery for intensive care and was placed under a heat lamp, rehydrated and fed. After five days, he had improved and his weight had increased to 260g (9.2oz) and after 12 days he had reached a healthy 320g (11.3oz), so Spike was ready to be moved to a rehoming centre.
Inspector Keogh-Laws added: “It was touch and go for Spike but he responded well to the expert care he received. Happily, after he was transferred to Reptilia – a specialist exotics rehoming centre – he found his forever home.
“This rescue had a happy ending, but it could have been very different. Abandoning an animal is never acceptable and should never be an option. We do understand that people’s circumstances may change, but if anyone is struggling to cope with their pet, we would urge them to reach out for help from experts, friends or family, or charities.”
In court, Timbs pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Spike and was given a community sentence and three-year ban on owning any animal.
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £114 victim surcharge cost. Banned from keeping any animal for three years (expires May 2026).