CONVICTED (2018) | Nigel Fletcher, born 1958, Janine Fletcher, born 1961, and Jennifer Clay, born November 1957, all of Bourne Avenue, Fazeley, Tamworth B78 3TB – kept emaciated and sickly dogs in cages and never exercised them
“Ignorant” pet owners Nigel Fletcher, Janine Fletcher and Jennifer Clay each pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to dogs at the home they shared in Bourne Avenue, Fazeley.
RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnson said she was called to the property amid reports that there were two emaciated dogs living at the flat.
She had previously attended the address six months before and had given advice on how to care for the dogs.
But when she returned in January 2018 she found the condition of the two Staffordshire bull-terrier type dogs, called Skye and Diesel had deteriorated.
They were severely underweight and their ribs were clearly showing.
She also found two other dogs, Crystal and Gnasher, with bad skin conditions, and another called Diamond who had a flea infestation.
“There was a real issue that two of the dogs were emaciated, others had skin conditions or fleas and in general they were kept in crates and not walked,” said Inspector Johnson.
“The people supposed to be looking after the dogs appeared to be completely ignorant in the needs of caring for animals.”
Two of the dogs were immediately signed over to the RSPCA and have since been rehabilitated and re-homed by the Leicester branch while following the outcome of the court case the three other dogs, Crystal, Skye and Diamond, are now in the animal welfare charity’s care.
Sentencing: Janine and Nigel Fletcher were fined £240 each and Clay was fined £290. Three-year ban on keeping all animals (expired October 2021).