CONVICTED (2021) | Stephen J Hopkinson, born 1 November 1983 , of 19 Southwood Avenue, Fleetwood FY7 7ET – failed to treat his dogs’ health conditions and abandoned them outside a supermarket.
Hopkinson, who has a previous conviction for assaulting his infirm mother, was banned indefinitely from keeping dogs after leaving his two poorly pets in pain.
One dog, Mylo, was left to with an untreated painful skin disease for months. He also had bleeding on his legs, feet, stomach, chest and genital area, pinkness around his eyes and nose and was suffering from ‘obvious fur loss’.
Another dog – a female chihuahua called Lily – had untreated dental disease.
Both dogs were rescued by a member of the public after she found them tied up outside a supermarket.
Hopkinson told RSPCA inspectors that he had returned to the supermarket to get the dogs the next morning.
This meant the dogs would have been outside the store for nearly 24 hours had they not been rescued.
RSPCA Inspector Amy McIntosh said she immediately noticed that Mylo’s skin was thickened, pink, flaky, scabby. He was also biting and scratching at his skin and it was obviously irritating him.
Lilly had very smelly breath but otherwise looked in normal body condition.
Inspector McIntosh took the dogs to a vet who examined them and prescribed Mylo with flea and skin treatments and a shampoo to help fight the infection in his skin.
The vet concluded Mylo had been suffering from his skin disease for at least three to six months.
Lilly needed an urgent dental procedure to remove loose teeth caused by her dental disease.
Both dogs were microchipped which identified Hopkinson as their owner.
Following a trial at Lancaster Magistrates Court, Hopkinson was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to treat their needs by leaving them unattended for an extended period without adequate care and supervision.
The dogs who have made good recoveries whilst in RSPCA care will be made available for rehoming after the 21-day appeal period has passed.
Sentencing: 16-week curfew; ordered to pay £595 in costs and charges. Indefinite ban on keeping dogs but can appeal after five years.
Update 31 March 2022
Lancs Live reported that Hopkinson was sentenced to four weeks in jail after he lost his appeal against convictions for animal cruelty.
His indefinite ban from keeping dogs was reduced to five years which he can not appeal before 12 months and his £500 costs from the magistrates hearing was upheld.
He was also ordered to pay a £96 victim surcharge and a deprivation order was passed for both dogs which will allow the RSPCA to find them a new home.
