CONVICTED (2009) | Mary-Ellen Collis, born c. 1958, then owner of Wardana breeding kennels in Brigstock, near Kettering – abandoned 100 St Bernards to go on holiday to Tenerife
Collis, who now lives in Treen Close, Thrapston NN14 4UU, pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to 85 dogs and one count of failing to meet the welfare needs of 14 dogs.
RSPCA inspectors visited the kennels following a tip-off and discovered the dogs living in filthy kennels with no access to fresh food or water.
The court heard how a total of 99 dogs had been abandoned at the kennels. Eighty-five of the St Bernards were suffering from medical problems such as abscesses, ulcerated skin and eye conditions and ear infections which had not been treated. Many were emaciated.
Three of the puppies were very thin and their ribs were visible. One dog was unable to stand and was suffering from dehydration. She had several open sores on her legs and feet caused by pressure and urine scalds. Another was in such a poor condition that the vet had to put the dog to sleep at the scene to prevent him from suffering further.
Another dog died overnight after suffering a heart attack at the veterinary surgery. He was thin, covered in faeces and was suffering from severe dehydration. Another had severely ulcerated eyes, which had not been treated and had caused blindness.
Ultimately 16 dogs died. The others were rehomed following a campaign by the RSPCA.
Prosecutor Kevin McCole told the court that the RSPCA was called after David Nolan, a member of the public, became concerned about the welfare of his mother’s dog. Repeated visits found nobody on the site and Mr Nolan called the police, but they said they could do nothing if there was no immediate threat to a human. Eventually he contacted the RSPCA and asked them to intervene.
When inspectors went into the abandoned kennels on November 29, 2008, they found dogs ranging from nine weeks to eight years of age, many of them were covered in urine and faeces. There was not enough food and water available and most were in a poor state.
Mr McCole said: “The defendant had left her premises and left the dogs effectively unattended while she went on holiday to Tenerife with her partner. It seems she went away on November 24 and subsequent to that for a number of days there was nobody at the premises.”
The court heard Collis, who had been declared bankrupt in 2007, claimed she was struggling for money in order to keep the kennels going. She told RSPCA inspectors that she had asked other people to look after the dogs, though they have since said they had never agreed to such a request.
Mr McCole told the court: “She gave no explanation as to why it was that she went away and why she made no provision for the wellbeing, welfare and care of the large number of dogs that were in her care at that time.’’
He told the court the dogs were boarded and treated by several vets – and experts concluded most of them had suffered neglect for several weeks or months.
Ms Collis’ defence solicitor Ben Brown, said his client’s actions were out of character. He said the former kennel-owner, who had bred and exhibited St Bernards for 30 years, had been well-respected in dog breeding circles.
He said she had bought the kennels in 2000, but things took a turn for the worse when she hit financial problems. She was declared bankrupt in May 2007 but Mr Brown said problems emerged with what to do with the dogs after the bankruptcy was set in motion.
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years (expired 2019).
