CONVICTED (2017) | Cathryn Tarbuck, born 30 June 1989 previously of St. Stephens Avenue Willenhall and more recently Station Street, Cheslyn Hay, Walsall WS6 7ED – left a dog to starve to death in a kennel
Mother-of-three Cathryn Tarbuck was disqualified from keeping animals for life after her starved dog was discovered.
Tarbuck was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and for failing to meet her needs.
The court heard that the rottweiler, named Maisie, was seen by one of Tarbuck’s friends digging at the floor of an outside kennel, on 27 January 2017.
The shocked friend pulled Maisie out before contacting a vet, who came out and immediately put Maisie to sleep as she was so emaciated and weak.
Concerned about Maisie’s condition, the vet contacted the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Dawn Burrell said: “Maisie was trying to dig her way out of her kennel but she was clearly weak. Tarbuck’s friend helped get Maisie out and then said to Tarbuck, ‘She is in a really bad way’.
“The vet who came to assess Maisie said that she had been suffering and sadly she was put to sleep on humane grounds. She had likely been suffering for at least three months.
“When she was trying to dig her way out of her kennel, she was in her final death throes. It is so sad that she had been left to suffer like that and for her life to end during such a period of distress.
“There is simply no excuse to neglect an animal like this. This was a case of extreme neglect for a long period of time. If you have a pet, you are legally responsible to ensure that their needs are met – something Tarbuck clearly failed to do.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order; ordered to pay a fine of £50 and costs of £385. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.