CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Josh Mark Rowles, born 19 February 1997, of Matthew Street, Dyfatty, Swansea SA1 1PT – punched a young French bulldog puppy to death.
Rowles lost his temper with the puppy, known as Hugo, after the dog bit him while they were ‘nuzzling’ on the bed
A post mortem carried out on Hugo following his death concluded he had been hit with “considerable” force.
Victim Hugo
Jon Tarrant, prosecuting, said the incident happened at Rowles’ home on the morning of April 29, 2023. He said the defendant awoke to find Hugo on his bed, and he and the dog began to “nuzzle”. The pup then bit Rowles on the lip, and Rowles responded by punching the dog.
The court heard the dog’s condition started to deteriorate over the following 10 minutes and he was seen to start panting.
The defendant rang his ex-partner, who told him to take the animal to the PDSA vets – but Hugo had already died before they reached the clinic.
The vet advised Rowles to contact the RSPCA, who collected Hugo’s body and began an investigation.
The pup’s remains were sent to Liverpool University for a post mortem.
In the meantime Rowles was invited to attend a voluntary interview with the RSPCA during which he said he had woken up to find Hugo on his chest and while he and dog were “nuzzling” the puppy had bitten his lip and he gave the animal “a clip”. He later told an officer that after Hugo bit him he carried the pup to his bed and threw him down before punching him to the side of his body.
The prosecutor said based on disclosures made in interview, evidence from the vets, and the results of the post mortem it was concluded there had been a punch to the head and a punch to the ribs of the puppy, and that the defendant “must have used considerable force”.
In court Rowles, a convicted heroin dealer and former member of an organised crime group, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
His last conviction was for a public order matter some three days before the fatal blow to the dog.
2018 police mugshot of Josh Rowles
John Allchurch, for Rowles, said his client and his ex had owned a French bulldog that had a litter of five puppies. After the couple split his client had kept one of the pups namely Hugo. He said the defendant had had Hugo for five or months before the incident in question.
Allchurch said Rowles had co-operated with the RSPCA investigation and been candid during his interview.
The advocate said Rowles had also been candid with the author of his pre-sentence report about needing help to address his consumption of alcohol.
Judge Catherine Richards told Rowles he had committed a “brutal offence” against his dog which had resulted in his death. She said the “easy” thing to do would be to send the defendant to prison to mark society’s disapproval of what he had done but she noted the “genuine” remorse he had expressed in the pre-sentence report and the steps he had already taken to address his issues around anger and alcohol.
The judge said the appropriate sentence on the guidelines was six months in custody – with a one-third discount for his guilty plea.
Sentencing | four months in prison suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation; 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. Banned from keeping any animal for the next five years (expires December 2028).
CONVICTED (2022) | Terence Patrick Box, born 28 January 1954, and Melenie Jane Box, born 5 May 1976, of Hilltop, Brynawel Crescent, Swansea SA5 9DN – failed to get veterinary treatment for their dog’s ulcerated tumour and weight loss.
Terry and Melenie Box. The couple left their elderly dog in agony with an enormous ulcerative tumour on her stomach
Terry and Melenie Box pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. The offence was that they caused unnecessary suffering to their elderly Jack Russell-type dog Tilly-May by their failure to ensure that she received timely and appropriate veterinary treatment for a tumour and weight loss.
The emaciated pet had suffered terribly before she finally died.
The RSPCA were alerted to the 13-year-old dog’s ordeal when her owners took her body to a vets for cremation. Tilly-May – who had died at home – was found to be emaciated with a large, ulcerated and necrotic tumour.
In a written statement provided to the court by RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper it was stated that Tilly-May had never been seen by a vet. She had not received any vaccinations as a puppy or any boosters as an adult.
She said: “No preventative veterinary treatment or advice had been sought over the course of her 13 years. Vets often recommend spaying female dogs to prevent diseases such as mammary gland tumours.
“When Tilly May started to develop a large mass, prompt veterinary treatment was not sought.”
In a written statement from a vet, who examined Tilly-May when her body was taken to the vets by her owners to be cremated, it stated that the most notable finding was a “large mass (tumour) seemingly associated with one of Tilly May’s mammary glands”.
The vet stated: “The mass was spanning the whole length and width of her abdomen and extended down to the level of her paws. There was evidence of ulceration and necrosis of the mass, most likely due to being in contact with the ground when Tilly May tried to walk, which in my opinion would cause pain.
“Tilly May had a body condition score of one out of nine (with one being emaciated and nine obese). This could be a result of the large tumour present (particularly if it had spread to other parts of her body) or of other chronic pathological processes ongoing which unfortunately would be undetectable on a deceased animal.
“In addition to these more significant findings, Tilly May also had very overgrown nails with one or two starting to curl round into the pads of the foot which I feel would have been painful. This is most likely because she was no longer able to walk, at least not for any significant distance, and the nails were no longer wearing down naturally.
“She also had fairly severe dental disease present with heavy calculus build up and marked gum recession particularly over her upper canines. In my opinion this would have been uncomfortable and may have contributed to her poor body condition if Tilly May was more reluctant to eat.
“In my professional opinion, Tilly May is likely to have been suffering for some time. As she was deceased on presentation and we have no history from the owner it is difficult to know exactly how long.”
Tilly-May in an image posted to Melenie Box’s Facebook account. The little dog never saw a vet during the 13 years she was alive.
After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper, said: “Tilly-May had the biggest tumour that I or my colleagues had ever seen. It is so very sad that they left their beloved pet to get to this stage. It is so important to seek veterinary treatment at the earliest opportunity.”
Sentencing | Terence Patrick Box: 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 16-week curfew; 10 Rehabilitation Requirement days; £250 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Melenie Jane Box : 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 10 Rehabilitation Requirement days, a 12 month mental health treatment requirement, 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Both were banned from keeping all animals for life and may not apply for the order to be terminated for a period of 5 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | animal sanctuary owner Sandra Jane Kaverneng-Stolp, commonly known as Sandra Stolp, born February 1966, of Alltwen Isaf Farm, Derwen Road, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3AU – banned from keeping equines for 10 years after 130 horses in her care were found malnourished and in poor bodily condition
In November 2019 the RSPCA led an operation to remove 137 horses from the Whispering Willows Equine Rescue Centre in Swansea, Wales. Some of those rescued had been suffering for as long as six months and two had to be put down.
Now the owner of the sanctuary, Sandra Kaverneng-Stolp, has been banned from keeping equines after admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to 22 animals in her care.
The horses were found at sites in Alltwen Isaf Farm in Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, Gowerton in Swansea, and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
Many of the horses were “in poor bodily condition” and photographs showed hips, spine and ribs clearly visible on some of the horses.
Photographs shown to the court showed horses suffering and with their spines, hips and ribs clearly visible
One horse named Saffron appeared lethargic, depressed and in discomfort, with her condition deteriorating. Very sadly it was decided that she should be euthanised to end her suffering.
Despite rehabilitation efforts, another horse was put down nine days after being found lame and reluctant to move.
The court heard Dyffryn Tywi Equine Clinic and Cotts Equine Hospital had engaged with Kaverneng-Stolp in the past but “both experienced frustration” at the “lack of experience and care for vulnerable horses and a reluctance to listen to advice.”
On November 7, 2019, the RSPCA attended the farm in Pontardawe together with a representative from World Horse Welfare where they observed that food and water was present for most of the horses but the stables were “dirty and unclean”.
They saw multiple horses, many thoroughbreds, in very poor bodily condition, many weather-beaten.
There was “unsuitable grazing” available to the horses
Three days later, the same group attended the farm in Gowerton, where they found two stable blocks with 64 horses present in a similar condition. A woman named Grace, standing in for Kaverneng-Stolp, who the court heard was in Blackpool at the time, agreed for the horses to be handed over.
Prosecuting, Jon Tarrant told the court: “There has not been a deliberate act to this offending, but something where she lost control in the circumstances.”
Mr Tarrant described the way horses named Marley and Holly were discovered – in a poor demeanour with bones protruding, ulcerated abrasions and painful cellulitis.
Another horse, Chance, was found to be subdued in demeanour and reluctant to move voluntarily, with severe lymphangitis, crusted serum and thick scabs.
Another, Frankie, was noted to be badly malnourished, subdued, suffering from severe dermatitis and being kept in an environment with poor shelter.
Kaverneng-Stolp was interviewed and admitted that the horses had not been seen daily. Asked for her expertise in keeping horses, she described herself as “no expert, but with general knowledge.”
She ran the rescue centre through some donations, but mainly her own money. She accepted the available amenities were not sufficient for the number of horses present.
Mr Tarrant said: “This is a case of well intentioned but incompetent care. A number of horses had to be euthanised. The aggravating features are that this was a sanctuary, where horses were being held on behalf of owners in cases where they could not be looked after. There is also a case where professional advice was ignored.
“It cost the RSPCA and other charity organisations £130,000 to get these matters resolved, so there is financial implications of this well intended, but incompetent care.”
Mitigating, solicitor John Goodwin said: “Ms Kaverneng-Stolp had a worthy ambition to rescue horses that would have been abandoned and instead give them a good life, but it got completely out of hand.
“She had good intentions to set up Whispering Willows but got out of her depth.
“She was caring for a close friend who was ill with cancer and bequeathed an inheritance.
“She used that money to set up the sanctuary. She wanted to look after horses her whole life. She used all her money and everything is gone now. She is left with nothing but benefits. She has no savings, no capital.
“She rented all the land and her record keeping was chaotic to say the least. She started off with a couple of horses, some of whom were given to her by owners who could not cope, and some whom arrived in a terrible state.
“She has received abuse online with photos posted of her smiling face next to the shark from Jaws. This has had an adverse effect on her.
“She bit off more than she could chew with this whole enterprise which has led her to be in court and face criminal charges.”
Judge Neil Thomas described the case as “highly emotive” where there had been “a failure to give any proper consideration to the animals in Kaverneng-Stolp’s care.”
Speaking after the sentencing, chairman of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC), Nic de Brauwere said: “The tragic case of Whispering Willows shows why the regulation of sanctuaries and rescue centres is the next vital step in protecting the welfare of animals in the UK.
“Too many times NEWC members have seen sanctuaries struggle and fail when – at best – they simply take on too many animals without the necessary care knowledge, experience or finances, or – at worst – use it as a means to unscrupulously ask for people’s money while allowing animals in their supposed care to needlessly suffer.
“Just like on this occasion, it results in experienced charities having to join forces to provide emergency care and find new homes for the affected animals – putting additional pressure on their own resources. It is thanks to the strong partnerships formed as part of NEWC that our members were able to offer their expertise and open their doors so quickly to the horses from Whispering Willows, many of which were in a desperate condition, and want to thank everyone involved in helping to give them safe new homes.
“We welcome the result and sentencing which we hope will reinforce the point that rescuing horses carries great responsibilities, and encourage more people to think carefully about who they donate their money to.
“Anyone wishing to support the care of the horses from Whispering Willows can donate to the registered charities who came together to save them.”
Sentencing: 20-week community order with curfew. Ordered to pay £1,000 costs. Disqualified from keeping equine animals for 10 years (expires February 2031).
CONVICTED (2020) | Lee Roger Aylott (since deceased), born December 1976, of Lavender Court, Tudno Place, Penlan, Swansea SA5 7AG – starved a dog to death and dumped his body in the back of a vehicle
Aylott pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 27 July 2020.
Two offences related to a German shepherd dog known as Shadow whom Aylott starved to death before concealing his remains in a pink duvet in the back of his people-carrier vehicle.
Post-mortem examination confirmed that Shadow had suffered unnecessarily due to his extremely poor body condition, severe weight loss, ear disease and skin lesions.
Surviving dog Suzie
Another German shepherd, Suzie, found at the property was also extremely thin but survived. She is to be made available for rehoming having undergone extensive training.
RSPCA inspector Holly Brown said: “Poor Shadow suffered and ultimately lost his life because of a lack of nutrition and suitable care.
“His body was concealed in the boot of a car – but, fortunately, we were able to find Shadow’s body and secure some justice for the suffering he had faced.
“Thankfully, another dog – Suzie – will get another chance of forever home happiness, but her body condition was also very poor and her needs were clearly not being met.
“Owning animals is a privilege – and something this man will no longer be entitled to do, as a result of the way both Shadow and Suzie were treated.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years; 140 hours of unpaid work; £2,500 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals indefinitely.
CONVICTED | Brandon Woods, born c. 1994, previously of Merthyr Tydfil and now Swansea – set fire to a neighbour’s budgie using an aerosol at the age of 14.
Brandon Woods’ sadistic behaviour against a helpless budgie was a red flag for the long history of violent crime to come
This is a horrific case of (non animal) violence from August 2020 but it’s mentioned in the newspaper report that Woods’ first offence was in 2008 when he set fire to a neighbour’s budgie using an aerosol so that earns him an entry on our database.
I can’t find the original media but I would imagine he was never named as he was only around 14 at the time.
Woods now has been sentenced to 15 months in jail (half in custody and the remainder on licence) after attacking a young woman.
The woman was left with more than 60 bruises and scratches on her face and body after the “cowardly” assault.
Some of the wounds left by Woods were described as looking like “claw marks”.
Woods; offending began in 2008 when he was a young teenager and he set fire to a neighbour’s budgie.
A judge said at the time that Woods’ pattern of offending demonstrated a “worrying personality trait” and he said he had concerns the defendant would go on to become a “very dangerous man” unless he changed his ways.
Woods’ convictions include spitting at a police officer, battery, criminal damage, drink-driving, driving while disqualified, witness intimidation, drugs matters, and two for assault occasioning actual bodily harm – one of these had seen him attack his mother and then go on to squirt ketchup around the house.
#MostEvil | Peter Dunn aka Peter James, born 06/03/2002, of Lord Nelson House, 170 High Street, Swansea SA1 1NE – beat up a French bulldog puppy on at least two occasions causing her to suffer multiple broken bones
Eighteen-year-old Peter Dunn and, Betty, the puppy he subjected to repeated violent attacks
The trauma inflicted on the 10-month-old dog, who is now known as Betty, was so severe that she would not even look at her fosterer for three weeks after being temporarily rehomed by the RSPCA.
Dunn injured the puppy by “doing an act, namely the infliction of blunt force trauma and physical violence”.
He also “knew or ought reasonably to have known that that act would have the effect of causing unnecessary suffering or be likely to do so”.
Dunn with Betty
The acts of violence occurred over two separate dates in 2019, on July 30 and September 24, and veterinary checks on the puppy revealed that her injuries were non-accidental.
Betty had suffered a swollen face, a fractured humerus, a fractured ulna and radius and a fractured femoral head.
The injuries were inflicted at a time when Dunn was the only person to have been alone with the dog.
Betty continues to recover from her ordeal and recently underwent an operation to remove wires from her leg. She has undergone several operations, and her care has cost the RSPCA around £8,000.
Her fosterer has described the little dog as a “bundle of joy” after at first being reticent in their company.
The fosterer said: “When she first came to me in October she had shut down and she wouldn’t look at me for three weeks. But now she is a beautiful bundle of joy. She is just amazing and she loves everybody and she is great with other dogs.”
The RSPCA are hoping that a ‘forever home’ will soon be found for Betty.
“I would very much like to thank the member of the public who alerted us to what was going on so we could promptly remove the puppy and give her the veterinary treatment she desperately needed,” said RSPCA Cymru inspector Gemma Cooper.
“I am so thankful she has recovered and is doing really well with one of our fantastic fosterers.”
Dunn pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and was given a nine-month referral order. He was told to pay costs and charges totalling £321. He was banned from keeping any animals for five years.
CONVICTED (2018) | Kiki Stamatopoulou-Angelitos, born 22/02/1970, most recently of Gomer Gardens, Townhill, Swansea SA1 6QF but may now be living in Greece – on the run after dead and starving pets found in her filthy home
Kiki Angelitos may have returned to her native country of Greece. As at January 2019 she is believed to still be on the run.
Angelitos was convicted in her absence after magistrates found three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and three charges of failing to meet the welfare needs of an animal proven. She was due to be sentenced at the end of May 2018 but failed to attend and magistrates issued a warrant for her arrest.
But she has still not been located and a spokeswoman for South Wales Police said arrest enquiries were continuing.
Filth and squalor at Angelitos’ property in Gomer Gardens, Swansea. A Malamute was found at the property in very poor condition.
During the hearing, Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard a dead dog was found in the garden of Angelitos’ home in Gomer Gardens, in Townhill, and had been decomposing for two weeks.
Another of the many dogs found at Angelitos’ filthy home.
A “visibly bony” Malamute dog and several small animals in a bad state, together with six dogs which were kept in one room, were also found in the house.
Sarah Thyer, prosecuting on behalf of Swansea Council , told the court at the time that this was a “distressing case”.
Officers first visited the property on October 6, 2017, after concerns about animal welfare and of the state of the house had been raised. She added: “There was an extremely strong smell of rubbish.
“Rubbish bags were covering the floor to such a large quantity that officers had to walk on this [the rubbish].”
She said there were open bags of dog food as well and that, in the kitchen, the tap was running at full blast.
The “filth” from the floor was washed in with the overflowing water, she continued, and the dogs were drinking from this dirty water. In the first visit, the officer found a room had been barricaded with a large animal crate inside. They weren’t able to see inside clearly as it was dark, she continued, but were able to identify several animal cages and a dog.
A few days later, officers returned to the property and, in the overgrown garden, they found a dog crate in a hole. Inside the crate there was a dog carcass which showed signs of two weeks of decomposition.
She continued: “In one of the bedrooms there was a Malamute which was in a very bad condition.
“The pest warden brought the dog downstairs and it was visibly bony.
“In the same room there were two rabbits which had no access to water. Both rabbits had extremely long claws.
“They were given water and they drank large amounts of it.” The court heard that, in another bedroom, there were six dogs, a gerbil and a hamster, together with some empty cages.
Ms Thyer said Angelitos agreed to surrender a German Shepherd dog in January 2018.
The court heard she had owned the Malamute dog for a year and that she had had the small animals for 18 months.
CONVICTED (2017) | Bradley Powers, born c. 1965, of Heol Frank, Penlan, Swansea – failed to take his severely underweight and flea-infested dog to the vet
Dog abuser Bradley Powers starved and neglected English Mastiff Hercules to the point where the dog had to be put to sleep.
Bradley Powers, real name Adam Williamson and originally from Southend on Sea, was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after his English Mastiff, known as Hercules, was found to be horribly emaciated and suffering from a flea infestation.
Powers is now banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
The dog was in such a poor state that he had to be destroyed by vets to prevent any further suffering.
Powers admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his pet at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.
RSPCA said inspector Leigh Summers visited Powers’ home in November 2016 to find an “extremely skinny” Hercules with a flea infestation.
Bradley Powers’ English Mastiff Hercules was emaciated, with “nearly every bone visible” .
Insp Summers said it was one of the “worst cases of neglect I have ever seen as an inspector – you could see nearly every bone in his body”.
Insp Summers added: “As well as not treating him for his weight loss, Hercules also had to suffer with a flea infestation, something which is easily preventable.”
She added: “Although his owner has now been convicted and has been banned from keeping animals, his actions meant that Hercules lost his life and was not able to get the second chance he deserved.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires April 2027).
CONVICTED (2002, 2006 and 2014) | serial animal hoarders and abusers Glyndwr R Jones, born c. 1951, and Margaret A Jones, born c. 1957, and Philip Michael Jones, born c. 1997, of Llanerch Crescent, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4FP
The RSPCA thought it had dealt with Glyndwr and Margaret Jones’ four-legged obsession in November 2002 when a court restricted them to a handful of cats, dogs and rabbits after they recovered 56 cats, 23 gerbils, 22 rabbits, 20 snakes, 10 tarantulas, 10 hamsters, nine ferrets, five lizards, four mice, three rats and a dog in their three-bedroom semi-detached home.
But in December 2006 the couple was before the courts again after police and RSPCA officials found more than 70 cats and six dogs in their home.
A council housing official investigated the family after receiving a series of anonymous calls from neighbours.
She discovered it was home to dozens of animals in conditions so appalling the smell was detectable outside.
After stepping inside the house the official described the sight as “such chaos”.
“There were animals in cages under blankets, roaming free, there were rodents. It was virtually impossible to count the number of animals,” she said.
She said that she visited the house on two occasions and estimated there were up to 100 animals.
She also called in the council’s environmental health expert, Emyr Evans who successfully applied for a warrant to enter the house in October 2005.
Mr Evans said: “When we got in there, the first thing I noticed was an overpowering smell of ammonia. “
He said it was being used to disguise the smell of urine and was so strong it stung his eyes.
“There were a large number of cats and dogs, some of which were roaming around the property. In the lounge, behind each chair, was a litter tray – the litter trays were full to over-flowing,” said Mr Evans.
The day after the visit a notice was served on the couple ordering them to tidy the property and clean its surfaces.
That order was withdrawn and served on their teenage son Philip Michael Jones after it was decided he was the owner of the animals.
The family told council officials some of the animals were rescued, some belonged to Carmarthenshire College and others were pets of two younger daughters.
Two of the animals, a Yorkshire Terrier and a cat, had to be put down after the RSPCA seized them.
All the animals in the house were underfed and almost all recovered and gained weight after being taken away.
In court Glyndwr Jones and his wife claimed their “enthusiastic” son Philip was solely in charge of the animals apart from a single cat, a cross Persian called Smokey, which was Mrs Jones’s pet.
But the district judge said as tenants of Swansea Council and parents the two “senior defendants must have had control over what came into the house”.
Philip Michael Jones told the court he rescued kittens, pups and other animals and claimed recognised bodies such as the RSPCA would not take them in.
Describing himself as “on the sick” and a former residential home care worker, he said he loved animals more than humans because he had been bullied at school.
He added he once paid a £1,500 vet’s bill for medical aid for a kitten which had been abandoned on a motorway.
Ultimately, all three defendants were found guilty of cruelty to dogs and cats.
In January 2007 Glyndwr and Margaret Jones were given 56-day suspended jail sentences and fined £2,000 each.
Philip Michael Jones was banned from keeping animals for two years and ordered to do 150 hours community work.
In April of 2013, another RSPCA and police raid found 31 dogs and 10 cats at their home.
In July 2014, Glyndwr Jones and Margaret Jones were convicted of breaching the lifetime ban and given 165-day suspended jail terms.
They were ordered to pay £250 each towards the £67,000 cost of the operation (including kennelling).
Philip Michael Jones was fined £175 and ordered to pay £250 costs for keeping animals in unhygienic conditions.
In December 2014 the three appealed against the convictions at Swansea Crown Court but Judge Michael Burr sitting with two magistrates dismissed the appeals and said conditions in the house were “disgusting”.
CONVICTED (2012) | Maria Elaine Louden, born 17/07/1964, and husband Andrew Neilson Louden, born 26/06/1963, formerly of Plymouth, but now of 23 Clyne Court, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8JD – starved and neglected two retired greyhounds
Maria and Andrew Louden almost starved their two pets to death while leaving them flea-ridden and covered in painful sores
Andrew and Maria Louden, who at the time were living in Ladywell Place, Plymouth, almost starved their flea-riddled greyhoundsTottie and Pebbles to death and left Tottie’s painful sores untreated.
Former racing greyhound champion, Bubbly Totti, was found emaciated, flea-ridden and covered in sores after being neglected by the Loudens
The pair pleaded guilty to failing to adequately feed the pets and get veterinary attention for Tottie’s sores between September 20 and October 4, 2011.
They also admitted to failing to protect both dogs from pain and suffering in not treating their flea infestations.
The Loudens were banned from keeping animals for life but spared jail due to their poor health.
Presiding magistrate Dennis Gavin told the court the dogs were left ‘malnourished, underweight and flea-ridden’.
He added: ‘Had it not been for your medical conditions, you would be going to prison today.’
RSPCA Inspector Sarah Morris, speaking after the case, said it was the worst case of dog cruelty she had seen in 12 years.
She added: ‘A life ban from keeping animals is a brilliant result. The dogs were in such a terrible, tragic state. This case will stay with me.’
Julian Jefferson, representing the Loudens, had said both his clients were disabled and on benefits and had found it hard to feed the dogs adequately because their payments had been ‘suddenly seized’.
Magistrates heard that both dogs were ‘about to die’ when the Loudens finally took them for treatment.
Andrew Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the couple took Tottie to a PDSA animal hospital on October 4, 2011.
Staff said the dog was emaciated, flea-ridden and had sores on his hindquarters.
Pebbles was also examined by a vet and found to be in a similarly poor state and close to death.
Mr Wyatt said Tottie, known as ‘Bubbly Tottie’, had previously won the greyhound St Leger, a famous competition at Wimbledon Stadium, and once changed hands for £50,000.
Both greyhounds made full recoveries and were rehomed.
Sentencing: eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; four-month curfew; £200 in costs each.Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
Wales Online reported that the Loudens were fined a total of £520 between them after breaching their ban on keeping animals. RSPCA inspectors, acting on a tip-off, found a guinea pig and two hamsters in their home at Clyne Court, Sketty, in March 2017.
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
