Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector Pippa Boyd
Defendants:
Female 49, housewife;
male 23, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
Pleas:
Guilty
Total convictions:
Two
Sentence:
Both disqualified from keeping
animals for five years; 60 hours'
unpaid work; £250 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Nicholas Sutton Solicitors
Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector Jan Edwards
Defendant:
Male 32, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
and s9
Pleas:
Guilty
Total convictions:
Three
Sentence:
Disqualified from keeping
animals for life; nine-month
supervision order; £100 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Blake Lapthorn Solicitors
HEREFORDSHIRE
PERSONS
CONVICTED 4
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 5
HAMPSHIRE
PERSONS
CONVICTED 16
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 31 HerefordshireA mother and son failed to recognise the seriousness
of their Border collie's suffering and did not seek the
much-needed follow-up treatment for his flea allergy.
When RSPCA Inspector Pippa
Boyd entered the property
there was a strong smell of
infection. Rebel, a black-andwhite
Border collie, was found to
have approximately 50 percent
of his fur missing from his back,
under his chin, behind his ears
and on his back legs. Rebel was
subdued, hanging his head low
and scratching extensively. His
skin was very thickened, flaky
and warm to the touch. He was
covered in fleas.
A vet concluded Rebel had been
suffering from continuous and
unrelenting irritation for over a
year. He received treatment and
was boarded at the vets' until his
condition was under control. Just
three weeks later the change in
Rebel's behaviour was visible -
he was bright, active and lively.
Rebel's fur is growing back and
he has been rehomed with a
loving family.
HampshireA man was disqualified from keeping animals for life
after keeping a marmoset, called Milo, alone in a
urine-soaked birdcage in a dark corner of his house.
The defendant had already been
disqualified from keeping animals
for one year after allowing the
nails of his dog, Maisy, to grow
into the pads of her paws.
Three-year-old Milo had no
outside enclosure, no water
provided and no nest box to sleep,
shelter or hide in. He was forced
to sleep on the floor of the cage,
which was covered with faeces, on
a blanket that was wet with urine.
A rope toy inside the cage was also
encrusted with old faeces.
Marmosets require the correct
diet, company of their own kind
and very specialised care. Milo
was malnourished - he had been
fed baby food from a jar - and
had suffered substantially, both
physically and mentally. He had
even been subjected to trips out
to a pub on a lead.
Dr Alison Cronin, Director of
Monkey World Ape Rescue
Centre said: "Public areas such
as pubs were dangerous for Milo
as marmosets are shy, forestdwelling
monkeys. Severe or
chronic stress can be fatal
for small primates."
Happily, Milo made a full
recovery and has been paired
with a companion at the centre.
©Monkey World
Milo in his dark, filthy bird
cage and (right) in his new
enclosure at Monkey World.
19
www.rspca.org.uk/prosecutions/annualreport