CONVICTED (2024) | David Yamoah, born September 1979, of 35 Althorp Road, Tooting, London SW17 7ED – failed to get veterinary care for a pregnant bulldog crying in pain.
Company director Yamoah was prosecuted by the RSPCA over neglect that led to the dog’s death.
In a statement read to the court, RSPCA deputy chief inspector Lynn Serrano said that on October 1, 2022, BlueCross Victoria Animal Hospital informed her about a grey and tan bulldog that had been admitted in terrible condition.
The dog, known as Cake, was reportedly “whelping in pain” without vet treatment.
Tragically, Cake was in such poor health that she passed away before a vet was able to perform a caesarean section.
Giving further evidence, a vet at BlueCross said Yamoah reached out for medical help two days after Cake had gone into labour.
The dog was transferred to a private vet clinic on September 30, 2022, as she needed urgent referral to the BlueCross hospital but he did not take his dog then and there.
The defendant ended up taking Cake to the animal hospital the following evening.
At that point, the dog was already in a collapsed state, grappling with hypothermia, and severe dehydration.
The vet’s statement said: “We tried to stabilise her, but she deteriorated and went into respiratory and cardiac arrest.”
A post-mortem showed that along with extreme thinness, Cake was also battling severe lung disease and a major uterine infection, which likely precipitated septic shock.
An RSPCA vet estimated that Cake had endured pain for several weeks or longer, which was avoidable with standard care and earlier veterinary intervention.
Yamoah was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to his dog by not providing immediate and effective vet care to address her ill-health.
The court hearing took place at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on June 20, 2024.
Sentencing | 280 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £114 and £322 towards court costs. Banned from owning or caring for a dog for three years (expires June 2027).