CONVICTED (2023) | Lisa Doolan, born 19 February 1976, of On the Waves, Crooklets, Bude EX23 9NF – for the starvation and neglect of several ponies.
Five ponies suffered terribly following months of neglect neglect by their owner, Lisa Doolan. The Bude hotelier was prosecuted after ignoring repeated warnings that the ponies needed to be fed properly.
The ponies, who were kept in a field with four others in the Bude area, had been caused suffering by to “a simple lack of suitable food” as well as “being left in a wet and cold environment”. Four were emaciated while a fifth was very thin. Some of the animals had untreated medical needs such as parasites.
RSPCA investigators told Doolan during multiple visits that she had to address her animals’ needs but she failed to take any action.
In court Doolan pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences.
Mother of four Doolan was visited by an officer from World Horse Welfare who also issued advice.
The ponies were severely underweight and not rugged. There wasn’t sufficient food or grazing and they had only been kept alive due to the intervention of a third party who attended each day to feed them.
The ground was heavily waterlogged and inspectors noticed a clear deterioration in the ponies over the two months between October and December 2022.
Ultimately all nine ponies were signed over to the RSPCA.
Sentencing her, Judge Simon Carr said: “Those who take on the responsibility of animals take on an enormous responsibility and burden. They are responsible for the care and feeding for the animals and whatever else is going on, that never moves.
“You had nine ponies under your care. I have read the vet reports and seen photographs and it would have been obvious that these animals were suffering terribly. The conditions they were kept in were appalling and they were simply not being fed. Most of them would have died if they were left there.
“This was not a momentary failure. It was months of neglect of animals who suffered terribly as a result of what you did.”
Representing Doolan, Feleena Grosvenor said: “She has shown genuine remorse and is horrified at the vet’s report. His circumstances at the time of the offending were devastating.”
Ms Grosvenor went on to tell the court that Doolan’s step father was dying from cancer at the time of the offences, and another family member had also passed away.
Doolan’s marriage was said to have been having difficulties and she was struggling with her mental health at the time.
Sentencing | four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years; £9,173.78 costs. Banned from keeping equine for five years (expires November 2028).
