CONVICTED (2022) | Bryan Riley, born c. 1946, and wife Georgina Riley, born c. 1951, both of Gringley on the Hill – kept eight neglected dogs in the back of a filthy van.

The Rileys were prosecuted by the RSPCA after failing to comply with an assessment notice in relation to their eight badly neglected dogs. When RSPCA inspector Daniel Bradshaw and a police officer attempted to apprehend the couple, they drove off in a transit van.

The dogs were eventually removed from the back of the foul-smelling van, which was strewn with faeces

Among them was a four-year-old French bulldog called Lola, whose eyeball was so badly infected it later had to be removed.

Another French bulldog named Hugo had thinning fur and scabs on his coat, as well as a weeping sore.

A third French bulldog, Libby, had open sores on her face. Her collar was fastened so tightly that her neck was reddened.

A dachshund called Iggy was suffering from extensive hair-loss and scabbing. A second dachshund, Lady, had thinning fur.

Two poodles – a mother and daughter named Angel and Coco – had dirty matted coats while a a third poodle Rosie’s coat was matted with faeces and urine.

Veterinary examination found that most of the dogs were in various states of malnutrition.

In his witness statement, RSPCA Inspector Daniel Bradshaw said: “Lola’s eyeball was hanging out and appeared to have a large scab that was oozing blood and pus and appeared to have faeces stuck to it. She had scabs and sores in her coat as well as a skin condition.”

The inspector said of the van: “There was such a strong smell of faeces, urine and ammonia that I struggled to put my head inside for more than two seconds.”

Bryan Riley pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering; one of failing to provide veterinary care for three dogs who were suffering from skin disease and the other of failing to provide veterinary care for the injury to Lola’s eye. He also admitted a third offence of failing to ensure the needs of all eight dogs were met.

Georgina Riley pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure the needs of the eight dogs were met.

In mitigation, the court was told that the defendants suffer from physical ill health and were left with a number of dogs they had struggled to cope with, and were keeping them in the van because their property had become a target for burglars.

Thankfully the dogs all recovered and have been rehomed by the RSPCA.

Speaking after the court hearing, Inspector Bradshaw said: “Lola’s eye was very infected and to leave a dog with her eye hanging out like that was unacceptable, as was leaving all the dogs in such a poor environment in the back of a van from which urine and faeces was just seeping out.”

Sentencing |
Bryan Riley: ordered to pay a fine, costs and surcharge totalling £1,225.
Georgina Riley: ordered to pay £684 in total.
Both were banned from keeping animals for eight years.

The Lincolnite
Yorkshire Post