Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector
Vicki McDonald
Defendants:
Male 45, unemployed;
female 43, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
Pleas:
Guilty
Total convictions:
10
Sentence:
Both disqualified from
keeping animals for 10 years;
eight weeks' imprisonment
suspended for 12 months;
six-week curfew orders;
£180 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Metcalfe Johnston
McCormick Solicitors
GREATER MANCHESTER
PERSONS
CONVICTED 57
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 113
GREATER LONDON
PERSONS
CONVICTED 52
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 119 Greater ManchesterEight Persian cats had been so severely neglected it
took a team of four people six hours to unmat
their coats.
Their owners had claimed to be
experienced and knowledgeable
with the breed and described the
cats as their "babies".
Once their matted fur had
been removed it was clear that
they were extremely thin and
malnourished. Waxy, miteinfested
discharge was removed
from their ears. Three of the cats'
tails had necrotic tips where the
tissue had started to decay under
the solid matting. Two of the cats
needed tooth extractions due to
dental disease.
Once completely unmatted they
were a pitiful sight. Veterinary
nurses made them little woolly
jumpers to keep them warm.
Over the first seven weeks of
recovery the cats improved
hugely, with an average weight
gain of 44.9 percent. Their coats
grew back and they appeared
bright, alert and affectionate, with
healthy appetites.
Sadly, one of the cats died,
however the remaining seven
were rehomed.
Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector Kate Fletcher
Defendant:
Male 56, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
and s9
Pleas:
Not guilty
Total convictions:
Two
Sentence:
Disqualified from keeping
dogs for life; 16 weeks'
imprisonment; £484 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Chancellors Lea
Brewer Solicitors
Greater LondonThe first case of 2014 for the RSPCA's prosecutions
department involved a German shepherd-cross
suffering from starvation.
The three-year-old, called Bella
was found in a skeletal state, with
all her bones visible. When RSPCA
Inspector Kate Fletcher attended
there was no water available for
Bella and her overgrown claws
prevented her from walking
normally. When asked why Bella
was so underweight her owner
argued that she was "fine".
The vet described Bella as
being grievously underweight,
emaciated and about as thin as
she could be without reaching the
point of collapse. She weighed
16.8kg, significantly below the
normal weight for a dog of her
age and breed.
Bella gained 62 percent in weight
in just over two months in
RSPCA care. Her muscle tone and
fitness improved through regular
exercise and she proved herself
to be an intelligent, lively and
affectionate dog.
Bella has been successfully
rehomed and is said to be "doing
really well".
Bella gained 62 percent
in weight in RSPCA care.
18 PROSECUTIONS
Annual report OUR FRONTLINE WORK
2014