CONVICTED (2024) | Matthew Daly, born 24 May 1992, of Manchester Road, Southport PR9 9HG – left his pet cat in agony for two weeks, with nearly every bone in his paw broken – injury unexplained.
The cat, Buddy, had broken four out of the five metacarpal bones on his front left paw and was battling a severe untreated flea allergy when he was found on the top floor of a flat on Manchester Road, Southport, in January 2023.
His owner, Matthew Daly, who’s originally from Feltham, West London, admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet Buddy’s needs following an RSPCA investigation.
South Sefton Magistrates Court heard how RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes had gone to the property after concerns were raised about Buddy’s welfare.
He said: “I noted Buddy was underweight with his spine, ribs and pelvic bones easily palpable through the skin. He was also suffering with a skin condition and I saw that his fur was thinning down his back and rear legs. Scabs could be felt under the fur and live fleas were noted.
“Daly picked Buddy up and brought him over to me and I could see his front left paw was swollen. He said that he had been suffering with an ingrown nail.”
Daly agreed to sign over his pet, and Buddy was taken for immediate veterinary treatment, where x-rays revealed multiple fractures in his paw.
The vet said the deformed paw on the cat’s left front leg was consistent with having fractured metacarpal bones, and x-rays confirmed that four out of the five bones were broken. The fracture margins and the formation of new bone suggested the breaks were between 10 and 14 days old.
During interview, Daly said Buddy was an indoor cat who belonged to someone else, but admitted he was also responsible and helped to look after him on a daily basis. He said he didn’t think Buddy was in any pain and he would have sought treatment for him if he thought he was suffering.
Happily, Buddy went on to make a full recovery at the RSPCA’s Wirral and Chester Branch. Another cat owned by Daly was also signed over into RSPCA care, and the two were adopted together.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Joynes said: “Buddy was clearly in a suffering state and needed urgent veterinary attention. It is the legal responsibility of the owner or person responsible for their animals to look for symptoms of ill health or injury and seek prompt and appropriate veterinary care. I’m relieved that Buddy is now safe and living in a loving home.”
Sentencing | fined £162. Banned from keeping any animals for just two years (expires May 2026).
CONVICTED (2024) | Simon Moynes, born c. 1985, of 26 Pimpernel Way, Chatham ME5 0SF – left his elderly dog to suffer with an “oozing”, grapefruit-sized tumour and other ailments.
The RSPCA was called to Moynes’ address in January 2023 to investigate reports of concern about a dog with fleas and bad skin.
There they found Cassie in a subdued state, covered in urine stains, underweight and with a huge tumour.
An inspector said: “I immediately noted a strong smell of urine and infection coming from Cassie.”
“She appeared extremely lethargic and subdued.
“Moynes placed Cassie on the floor in front of me and I could see she was extremely underweight with her ribs clearly visible. She had fur loss across her mid to lower back and down her back legs and I could see urine staining on her back legs. She also appeared to be dripping urine involuntarily.
“She had evidence of flea dirt and fleas on her back. Cassie was able to stand for a few seconds before she laid down in front of me and appeared extremely weak on her legs.
“On her front left leg around her elbow she had a large mass that I noted was about the size of a grapefruit that was open, ulcerated, oozing pus and blood and smelt extremely strong of infection.
“I also noted a small mass on her abdomen that was also open, ulcerated and oozing pus and blood.”
Moynes then told the inspector that Cassie had not seen a vet since before 2020. He claimed he couldn’t get an appointment during the Covid lockdown, the RSPCA said.
The defendant agreed to let the inspector take Cassie to the vet for treatment – where it was decided that the most humane option would be to put her to sleep.
In a witness statement, the vet said: “The period of suffering is likely to have been 18 months and this could have been reduced if veterinary advice was sought sooner.
“Both masses would have caused severe pain and suffering for Cassie. There was rotting tissue in both masses which had caused severe infection.
“Due to her anaemia she was extremely lethargic and had shortness of breath upon presentation.
“Cassie would have been suffering with anaemia for up to six months as a result of her untreated condition. Due to her emaciation and muscle wastage, she could barely stand and couldn’t walk where she was so lethargic, weak and in a suffering state.
“Her tumours were so large that they were inoperable, and would have had to involve removal of the entire front leg to adequately remove the tumour. In a severely compromised, anaemic and hypotensive dog this would not have been possible as she would not have survived the anaesthetic.”
In mitigation, Moynes said he had “mental health issues”. He is said to have shown significant remorse and accepted that Cassie should have been taken to a vet.
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. A 10-year ban applicable to all animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | Darren Hughes, born c. 1975, of Millfield, Six Acres Estate, Pooles Park, London N4 3PB – left his pet shih tzu to be eaten alive by fleas.
Hughes was convicted of animal cruelty in relation to the dog, Chewie after leaving him abandoned and suffering for several months at his home.
A member of the public found the dog collapsed and took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a heavy flea burden and iron deficiency.
The vet was forced to put Chewie to sleep to end his suffering.
In evidence, the vet wrote: “Chewie was suffering for an extended length of time, as the initial mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was very low, and with chronic anaemia and ongoing blood loss, one or more months are required before the MCV and MCHC decrease below reference intervals.
“This patient’s mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) wasn’t even registered by our laboratory, which is likely to mean red blood cells do not have enough haemoglobin. It also shows thrombocytosis (increased platelets), which is often present in animals with iron deficiency anaemia.
“The biochemistry blood test results show that he had low creatine, which was likely related to muscle loss, and increased urea, which is likely related to dehydration. He was diagnosed with severe anaemia due to his infestation with fleas.”
A cat was also removed from Hughes and will now be rehomed.
In mitigation, he said an alcohol addiction resulted in failing to provide Chewie with veterinary treatment.
After sentencing, Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said: “This was a distressing case, poor Chewie had been left on his own for large periods of time while he was riddled with fleas, they were literally eating him alive.
“It’s thanks to a member of the public alerting us to the condition of this dog that he was punished for his actions. Sadly it was too late to save Chewie, but it does mean this individual will never be able to neglect pets in this way again.”
Sentencing | 18-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; victim surcharge of £154. Banned indefinitely from keeping all animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | Jade Taylor, born c. 1996, and Matthew Drake aka Boop Drake, born 23 January 1992, both of Brooklyn Terrace, Brighouse HD6 2PF – did nothing to help their poorly dog who died as a result of their neglect.
Boop Drake and Jade Taylor failed to provide vet treatment for their 10-year-old dog’s flea infestation, which caused an allergic skin reaction .
Jade Taylor and the ridiculously monikered Boop Drake failed to seek veterinary treatment for their ten-year-old Staffordshire bulldog Misha.
She had a flea infestation which caused a severe allergic skin reaction so bad she ended up being put to sleep because of “self trauma from her chewing and scratching at her skin”.
Misha was suffering from a serious skin condition, which included skin reddening and open scratch wounds.
The couple pleaded guilty to one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
RSPCA inspector Adam Dickinson went to the couple’s home on September 17, 2023, to investigate after being tipped off by a member of the public. He found Misha suffering from a serious skin condition, which included skin reddening and open scratch wounds.
The inspector said in a statement presented to the court: “Misha had a lot of missing fur and her skin was tough and wrinkly. It looked quite pink with numerous areas showing fresh blood. She was running around in the yard, frequently scratching her skin.”
Misha was taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she underwent antibiotic and steroid treatment.
A vet at the hospital said she was extremely itchy, which led to “self trauma from her chewing and scratching at her skin” which was so damaged, it looked like ‘elephant skin’.
After signs of showing an improvement in her condition, Misha developed a gastro-intestinal bleed, which is a potential side effect of steroid treatment.
A 2016 social media image of Misha
Despite the withdrawal of the steroids and treatment with gastroprotectants, her condition worsened and it was decided the best course of action to end her suffering was to put her to sleep.
The court heard the defendants had not taken the dog to see a vet since 2019.
The vet stated: “It should have been clearly evident to the owner that Misha required veterinary assessment and care. She was frequently scratching and chewing at herself which again would be easily noticeable.
“Skin issues were flagged up by the owners’ veterinary surgeon in 2015 and 2019, but the dog was not presented to a vets again after this date. A reasonable owner would have sought veterinary care on seeing their pet with these symptoms.”
The court heard that Boop Drake was receiving therapy for “mental health issues”, while Jade Taylor apparently needed to support her sister, who was a full-time carer for her mother.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation; each must pay a victim surcharge of £114 and court costs of £400. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires February 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | hoarder Mandy Swash, born 3 September 1970, of Rosedale Avenue, Crosby, Liverpool L23 0UQ – kept animals in shocking squalor.
Two dead cats were discovered by RSPCA inspector Louise Showering during a visit to Mandy Swash’s previous home on Barmouth Way, Vauxhall, Liverpool, in September 2022. The charity had been called to investigate reports of dead animals and animals living in poor conditions. Showering put on a mask to go inside what was described as a “house of horrors” and said she “immediately” noticed a smell and flies everywhere.
Describing the conditions at the property, inspector Showering said in a witness statement: “Inside there were boxes and bags piled high making it difficult to see the floor. I had to stand on rubbish and cat litter in order to go up the stairs.
“The bathroom was in a filthy state with items covering the floor and inside the bath. The door of the back bedroom was off the hinges and resting against bags and the bed behind it.
“The window was partially obscured by piles of bags and there were many flies and fleas in the room. The landing was blocked by more items so I had to climb over these to reach the other two bedrooms.
“Inside the front larger bedroom, the bed was heavily soiled by faeces. I had to stand on rubbish just to get into the room. Inside the kitchen, I was again unable to see the floor due to the amount of rubbish.
“There was faeces and empty food packets, plastic and empty soiled bowls and litter trays. The kitchen itself was also filthy, with piles of faeces stacked up next to the sink and on the work surfaces.”
Sadly, in the living room and rear bedrooms, the RSPCA officer found the bodies of the two dead cats.
Ms Showering said: “In the lounge area, I saw a black bin bag over the top of one of the boxes. The letting agent informed me that he had spoken with Swash who told him that one of the dead cats was in a box in the lounge so I removed the box outside and found the body of a black domestic shorthaired cat inside.
“The cat appeared to have had a head injury and trauma to the eye area. In the rear bedroom, I saw a large number of fleas jumping on a blanket to the left of the door. I removed the blanket and discovered the body of a black domestic short-haired cat which appeared underweight and also had a flea infestation.”
It is believed the cat in the living room had suffered head injuries following a road traffic accident.
After the inspector left the home, more than 185 bites appeared over her body, which she said was the “worst case” of flea bites she had suffered in her 13 year career.
She said: “This was an incredibly sad case which resulted in the neglect and suffering of multiple cats.
“These cats were not provided with a suitable environment in which to live due to the heavily soiled litter trays, a heavy build up of cat faeces on work surfaces, floors, beds and soft furnishings and unsafe living conditions due to the hoarding of items such as plastic bags, and stacked items, causing potential trapping or injury hazards.
“There were no safe, comfortable, clean places in which the cats could rest. The environment was such that it would be more difficult to spot an injured cat easily. They were heavily infested with fleas and there was a build-up of faeces and detritus which would create a breeding ground for disease.”
Swash also had two female black and white cats who had been moved out of the property previously. The cats – Maud, two, and Mabel, seven – appeared in normal bodily condition and no further issues were raised.
Maud and Mabel have remained in Swash’s care and are well looked after, receiving regular vet checks and flea treatment.
Swash was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 4, 2024, where she was proven guilty in her absence.
In mitigation, the court heard how her personal circumstances are different now in terms of mental health and therefore no disqualification order was imposed.
Sentencing | 12 month community order with 20 days of rehab; eight-week curfew mental health treatment requirement; £1,250 in costs plus £114 victim surcharge. No ban.
CONVICTED (2023) | Carrie Anne Renwick, born c. 1970, of Meadow Row, Castlefields, Runcorn WA7 2LN – moved out of her squalid flat, leaving seven cats to starve to death.
RSPCA inspectors found the decomposing bodies of seven cats in Carrie-Anne Renwick’s squalid and flea-infested Runcorn flat
The deceased animals were surrounded by rubbish and overflowing litter trays in a flat that was so cluttered some of the rooms were inaccessible.
The cats’ owner, Carrie-Anne Renwick had vacated the property in Primrose Close, Runcorn, months earlier leaving her abandoned pets behind to die.
The court heard how the deceased animals were removed by RSPCA inspector Nadine Pengilly on July 5, 2023.
In her evidence, Inspector Pengilly said: “As I approached the front door, I was attacked by hundreds of fleas escaping via the letterbox.
“We went to the back of the property and I could clearly see the flat was in a filthy condition, with overflowing litter trays and bags of rubbish all over the floor.
“The place was full of clutter and there was a mass flea infestation.
“The first room on the right was the bathroom which was dirty and cluttered. I found two dead cats on the floor.
“The first room on the left was the main bedroom, where there was a dead cat on the bed, two in the wardrobe, one near the door and one behind the curtains on the floor.
“The bedroom was cluttered with items and made access hard as I had to climb over bags of shopping.
“The black cat found in the wardrobe looked like he hadn’t been dead long as he still had flesh on his body and was being eaten by maggots.”
RSPCA inspector Leanne Cooper, who also attended the address, added: “There was a foul smell coming from the property that I could smell from standing outside the front door.
“I could see live and dead flies on the windows and hundreds of live and dead fleas. These actually jumped on me when I opened the letterbox.”
The deceased animals were taken into possession by police and their bodies examined by a vet.
The cat found in the wardrobe had died at least 36 hours earlier while, the other six carcasses were dried out and rigid, suggesting they had been dead for some time.
“Decomposition was so marked that the bodies were not suitable for a post mortem examination,” Ms Cooper said.
“Reviewing the carcasses along with the environmental evidence, starvation and dehydration cannot be ruled out as potential causes of death due to the lack of water and fresh food.
“I would expect a responsible owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight.
“Moreover, if their animal became weak or lethargic. Starvation and dehydration cause weakness and debilitation.
“This will have been uncomfortable and severely impacted the cats’ everyday lives and their ability to ambulate, to obtain food or water and even to play.
“Emaciation can cause mental suffering through having a constant hunger that is never fulfilled.
“It is reported to take at least four days for a cat to starve to death – a slow, painful and prolonged process as the body shuts down. This will have been unpleasant.”
Renwick had previously been given advice by the RSPCA about appropriate flea treatment but had turned down offers of help to rehome the cats.
In mitigation, the court heard she had health and alcohol issues.
Before sentencing, deputy district judge Price highlighted that only a custodial sentence was appropriate in this case due to the nature and seriousness of the offences.
However, taking Renwick’s guilty pleas into account, the judge agreed to suspend the sentence.
Sentencing | 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; alcohol treatment programme; costs and surcharge totalling £354. A 10-year ban on owning or keeping animals (expires December 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | pet hoarders Pauline Perry, aka Pauline Thomas, and David Thomas both of Pentwyn Avenue, Mountain Ash – failed to care for 11 cats with four found stuffed into a small cat carrier inside a shopping bag.
Pet hoarder Pauline Perry, who was already well-known to the RSPCA, had concealed four unhealthy cats inside a shopping bag
The four distressed cats were discovered inside the heavily soiled cat carrier by RSPCA deputy chief Gemma Cooper. All of them were urine-stained, riddled with fleas and suffering a variety of untreated health conditions.
The appalling discovery led to 11 cats in total being removed from their owners, Pauline Perry and David Thomas, and taken into RSPCA care.
In court the couple pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act in that they failed to ensure the needs of 11 cats.
In a written statement to the court RSPCA deputy chief inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper stated that several attempts were made to gain access to the couple’s home – but access was always denied.
The court heard how DCI Cooper was driving along Pentwyn Avenue on February 1, 2023 on her way to visit the couple when she spotted Pauline Perry walking along the street.
DCI Cooper said: “Pauline Perry was walking a brindle lurcher dog I know as Sheba and she was also carrying what looked like a very heavy bag for life.
“It looked heavy because she kept putting it on the floor every ten or so steps. Sheba was wearing a red jacket which covered the majority of her body. I wondered whether Pauline Perry was purposely removing Sheba from Pentwyn Avenue before my arrival because she had a health problem she did not want me to see.
“I turned the van around and went and spoke with Pauline Perry who jumped out of her skin when she saw me.
“As I approached Pauline Perry, to my horror, I could hear cats fighting in the bag for life.”
DCI Cooper asked what was in the bag and Perry replied ‘cats’ and that she didn’t know how many were in there. DCI Cooper also noted that she could see fresh scratch marks on her hands and face.
Perry agreed for DCI Cooper to look at the cats. DCI Cooper said: “The cats were inside a single cat carrier, designed for one small cat or kitten only which had been concealed inside a pink bag for life.
“The cat carrier smelt extremely foul of cat urine and faeces and it was stained yellow. I said to Pauline Perry that I did not feel safe letting them out of the carrier on the main road in case they escaped and so I would like to take them to a vet to inspect them.”
The couple agreed for the cats to be signed over to the RSPCA and also allowed entry into their home.
DCI Cooper said: “As we entered the house there was the same foul smell of cat urine and faeces which came from the bag hit me and I had to hold my breath.
“We first went upstairs and saw two large animal crates which had been collapsed. We then went into the kitchen where there was cat faeces over the floor, up the walls and on the kitchen cupboards.
“It was extremely smelly and there were lots of flies in the room. In the middle of the kitchen was a guinea pig cage with two cats inside. These cats had no access to water or a litter tray and it was far too small to house them.”
These cats were signed over to the RSPCA. A further five cats were found in the house and then signed over. In total 11 cats were removed – one of these was not signed over but was taken into the care of the RSPCA.
The cats were taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic where they were examined.
The first four cats to be examined were those found inside the bag/carrier. These were:
A tabby and white male cat who had severe alopecia to the majority of his body and limbs. He had fleas and flea dirt and was underweight. His coat was smelly and his paws were urine stained.
A torbie female cat who had faecal contamination over her body and tail. Her paws were also urine stained and she was underweight. Flea dirt was seen throughout her coat.
A black and white female cat. Her white paws and legs were yellow in colour from urine. She smelt and she was covered in fleas.
A dark tortoiseshell female cat who had scabs around her neck and back end. Her fur was dirty and thinning and fleas were visible throughout her body.
Other cats had fur loss and were infested with fleas; one male cat had yellow paws from urine staining.
Speaking about the four cats in the cat carrier, a vet said: “They were cramped up against each other and severely restricted in their ability to move. This will have caused notable physical discomfort and stress, the cats did vocalise and hiss repeatedly until we were able to let them out in a contained indoor environment.
“This was in contrast to how they behaved after having been let out. All the cats were a little nervous but we were able to handle them easily and did not continue their vocalisation after being released.
“This was a totally inappropriate way for the owner to transport the animals, directly causing them unnecessary discomfort and stress.”
One cat was sadly put to sleep on welfare grounds.
The surviving cats have been rehomed or are still looking for homes.
Sentencing | Perry: 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation; £50 fine, £250 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping all four-limbed animals for four years.
Thomas: 12 month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation; £250 costs, a £50 fine, £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping cats for four years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Kaycee Lee Hutchinson, born 7 March 2003, of Lonsdale Grove, Farnworth BL4 7UD – starved his two cats, leading to the death of one of them.
Hutchinson was visited by an RSPCA inspector on November 7, 2022, after police raised concerns about a deceased cat and an emaciated cat at his squalid property.
Information obtained by UKACF suggests that he had moved out to stay with his mother Anne Stokes, leaving the cats behind without food or water.
Upon arrival at the flat, inspector Beth Fazackerley was informed by police that officers had been forced to change their clothing after being jumped on by fleas.
In her witness statement, Inspector Fazackerley said: “When I entered the first floor flat, I immediately noticed a foul smell, it was a mixture of general waste and cat faeces and urine.
“Inside the flat there were two overflowing litter trays with old faeces in and general belongings and rubbish on the floors and surfaces of each room.
“An underweight female, black, domestic short-haired cat walked over to me so I confined her in my cat basket, shortly before discovering a deceased male cat.”
Surviving cat Bagheera was emaciated while living in squalor
The inspector took the felines to RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where the surviving cat received veterinary treatment and the deceased cat was sent for an autopsy.
Senior veterinary clinician, Shannon McCall, examined the dead cat and found the cause of death to have been starvation and anaemia.
In her witness statement, she said: “Both cats had marked flea infestations – this would cause constant irritation, frustration and itchiness. I would expect a responsible owner to identify the fleas and seek veterinary advice.
“The deceased cat will have undoubtedly felt weakness and debilitation. Emaciation can cause mental suffering through having a constant hunger that is never fulfilled, it is reported to take at least four days for a cat to starve to death – a slow, painful and prolonged process as the body shuts down.”
Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and given a lifetime ban and suspended jail term.
After sentencing, Inspector Fazackerley added: “The conditions Calipo and Bagheera endured were wholly unacceptable.
“Pets are totally reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy, and ensuring appropriate care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets.
“It is immensely sad that an entirely preventable death occurred. But I at least hope that Bagheera will recover well and find a loving new home following our action.”
Sentencing | concurrent 16-week and 12-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months; 140 hours of unpaid work; 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; £450 in costs and £154 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on owning any animal.
CONVICTED (2023) | Margaret Stanners, born c. 1975, and Keiron Cruise, born c. 1986, of Benridge Park, Blyth NE24 4TE – for allowing two German Shepherds to become emaciated through malnourishment.
Stanners and Cruise pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs, named Buddy and Bella, who were found emaciated and infested with fleas at their home.
The court heard that Stanners had told RSPCA inspector Rachael Hurst, when she called at her property on February 27, 2023, that the dogs were “getting better” after having initially lost weight.
But the inspector said in a statement that the dogs had looked “incredibly thin” when they ran out from the back of the property to greet her.
“I could see their spine, hip bones and ribs, while across their backs they had hardly any fur. Their skin was flaky and there was a malodorous smell,” inspector Hurst told the court.
Stanners gave the inspector permission to take Buddy, who is around 10 years old, and Bella, aged eight, to see the vets.
Buddy weighed just 21.4kg (47.2lb) and a vet scored him one out of nine in a body condition rating. He had a flea infestation, an eye infection and mild anaemia.
Bella, who weighed 18.3kg (40.3lb), was also scored one out of nine in the same test. She had hair loss on her back and skin abrasions where she had been scratching due to the fleas.
The vet said in an expert report that both dogs had lost weight because of inflammatory bowel disease, but their weight would not have plummeted so low had they been fed an adequate diet. Both dogs quickly gained weight in the care of the RSPCA. In two months, Buddy put on 7.7kg (17lb) and Bella 7kg (15.4lb).
Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Hurst said: “They have both put on weight and are making progress in our care at Felledge Animal Centre, although they are not quite yet ready to be rehomed.”
Sentencing | eight-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; costs of £250 plus victim surcharge of £154. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires August 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | serial animal hoarder and abuser Lee Howard, aka Lee Howard-Smith, born 12 August 1966, previously of Middlesbrough but at the date of his latest conviction of Scott Road, Kettering NN16 9JY – kept animals in faeces-ridden home despite lifetime ban.
Howard was banned from keeping animals for life in 2006 after leaving 13 horses and ponies, 11 hens, four dogs and a rabbit to die of thirst and starvation in Trimdon, County Durham. The animals had been locked inside stables and left to die. Three dogs survived by eating the remains of the dead animals.
Just a few months later Howard was back in court after it was discovered he was keeping 11 dogs and 16 birds at a house in Delarden Road, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough.
The animals were kept in squalid conditions, with the dogs running around in piles of faeces and pools of urine. Six of them had problems with their paws and one had an ear infection.
Howard was given a further six-month jail term for breaching his ban.
Now Howard has received a suspended prison sentence after working as a paid pet-sitter. A licensed dog breeder that had used his services happened to see his name and photograph on an animal cruelty website and reported him to the RSPCA.
On January 6, 2023, police officers and an RSPCA inspector searched Howard’s home in Scott Road, Kettering, and found yet more animals living in filthy conditions without access to water.
Confined in the kitchen was a Boston terrier dog called Harriet, who Howard said he was looking after for a friend.
The floor of the kitchen was covered in faeces and there was no access to water and no proper bedding.
Bird cages were found in the lounge, with one containing an Amazon green parrot called Jud and the other housing two cockatiels called Paxo and Stuffing. Both cages were dirty with old food, faeces and no fresh water. Fish tanks with goldfish and tropical fish were also found.
Two female cats called Sooty and Blacky were discovered in a bedroom described as ‘almost floor to ceiling’ with belongings and old cages and tanks.
The floor was caked in faeces and both cats were infested with fleas.
Police also seized documents from as far back as 2012 with breeding and pedigree certificates, animal course certificates and even a judging education certificate from The Kennel Club found in a frame.
The dog, Harriet, was later taken back to her owner who was not aware of any animal welfare incidents relating to Howard. The court heard he had been looking after her since 2017.
The court heard that in his role as a pet-sitter for the breeder Howard had control of 15 dogs, four chickens and numerous finch-like birds and would be paid £35 a day. He looked after the animals on at least 15 occasions between August 2021 and August 2022 – including the odd overnight stay – and was even listed as a keyholder on the man’s council animal welfare licence.
In court, Howard pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure animal needs were met and breaching a disqualification from keeping animals.
Mitigating, Sewli Kuddus said Howard suffers from physical and mental health issues and has problems with self-care.
She said he has no family and has only recently been given a carer.
She said: “He had no-one to say to him ‘what you are doing is wrong’.”
Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Susan Haywood said: “I hope that now that he has been sentenced by the court the defendant will learn from this experience and not get animals which he clearly is unable to look after properly.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. 20 rehabilitation activity days; costs of £400 plus £154 victim surcharge. Howard was also handed another lifetime ban from keeping animals and cannot apply to have it lifted for 10 years.
