CONVICTED (2024) | Mercy Mujinya-Motima, born 27 May 1986, of Longley Road, Tooting, London – starved her pet Labradoodle to death.
NHS employee Mujinya-Motima, who works in mental health services, took the emaciated body of the female dog, Shiloh, to the Blue Cross animal hospital on 23 October 2023.
She told staff the one-year-old labradoodle had died after being involved in a collision with a car the previous evening. However, it was evident to the vet that the dog had been starved over a prolonged period and had no injuries consistent with a road traffic accident. She was given a body condition score of just one out of nine.
The vet was of the opinion Shiloh had been unwell for at least six months before her death
Mujinya-Motima had never taken the dog, whom she had owned from the age of eight weeks, to a vet but had registered her with a practice just five days before her death.
RSPCA inspector Harriet Daliday investigated for the animal welfare charity.
In written evidence, she stated: “I was shocked at what ease the body was removed from the storage given the breed of dog. I could easily lift the dog with one hand.
“I was informed that the dog only weighed 5.8kg at the time she was brought in.
“Shiloh was extremely underweight with all ribs, hips and spine sharp and easily felt.
“The shape of her skull and the indentation above the eye sockets were easily felt. There was absolutely no fat or muscle on her body.
“Her eyes were sunken in and had a gunky discharge surrounding them.
“She had a small open wound on her left hind leg and what looked to be like pressure sores on her thighs. I found it surprising that whilst being in this poor condition, Shiloh’s coat appeared to be well maintained.
“It was clean and looked like it had been fairly freshly groomed. The nails were trimmed far back and had been cut as opposed to being naturally short.”
Inspector Daliday also contacted the registered owner on the dog’s chip – who was the breeder of the labradoodle – and added: “She advised she had a litter of labradoodle puppies last July which she sold at nine weeks old.
“This one by the name of Pink Collar was sold to a lady and her daughter. She said she would be able to find the contact details if I needed them.
“I advised the dog was sadly deceased and this was now being investigated. The breeder was shocked and upset that this had happened to one of her puppies.”
Mujinya-Motima pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence.
The court heard in mitigation that she was remorseful and distressed and that she had no plans to keep a dog in the future.
They added that she had paid over £400 for the dog, and had voluntarily surrendered the dog’s body to the vet.
Sentencing | 12-month community order including a 12-week curfew and an electronic tag; £400 costs. Five-year ban on owning dogs (expires March 2029).
Novelty obviously worn off. And she works in the NHS in mental support. She should be struck off. If she can do that to a vulnerable dog then she can do it to a vulnerable person. This is why I won’t breed my american bulldog. Due to where the puppies would end up. I hope karma bites her hard.
Make me sick 🤬🤬🤬🤬