As RSPCA Inspector Jennie Ronksley
approached the flat she noticed a strong
smell of ammonia coming from inside and
trodden faeces outside the front door.
Looking through the letterbox, she could see
a thin, male Staffordshire bull terrier barking
and growling in a hallway covered in urine and
faeces. She knocked on the door and called
through the letterbox, but there was no reply.
Entry was gained and Inspector Ronksley
immediately secured the bull terrier, called
Shank, who was very aggressive. The
occupants emerged from the kitchen where
they had been hiding; they were both also
extremely aggressive and made threats
towards Inspector Ronksley and the housing
officer. Shank was placed in Inspector
Ronksley's van.
The police arrived, and after some time the
woman agreed to allow Inspector Ronksley
back into the flat so she could view the
remaining dogs. What she saw shocked her.
Jessie, a Staffordshire bull terrier and Bruiser, a
bull mastiff-cross were found curled up on a
filthy blanket by a radiator. Bruiser was chained
to the radiator with a chain too short for him
to reach his water bowl.
Jessie and Bruiser were extremely thin. Both
of them had pressure sores on their bodies
- Jessie had a particularly large, open ulcer
beside her tail. She struggled to walk and had
clumps of excrement between her toes. There
was no dog food present.
When interviewed the man showed no
remorse. He smirked while he lied that he
did not know what a vet was.
RSPCA Inspector Jennie Ronksley visited a flat in South Yorkshire,
accompanied by a housing officer, after concerns were raised about
the wellbeing of the occupants and their dogs.
Jessie and Bruiser were found curled up on a filthy
blanket - Bruiser was chained to the radiator.
Jessie and Bruiser Jessie and Bruiser were taken to RSPCA
Sheffield Animal Centre to recover. Jessie's
pressure sores began to heal and, after being
fed properly and being given supportive
wound care, both dogs put on a significant
amount of weight and became more alert.
Sadly, Shank was so aggressive he had to
be euthanased by the vet, as he was not
deemed rehomeable.
Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector Jennie Ronksley
Defendant:
Male 21*, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4 and s9
Pleas:
Guilty
Total convictions:
Five
Sentence:
Disqualified** from keeping animals for 10
years; 16 weeks' imprisonment suspended
for one year; 200 hours' unpaid work;
one-year supervision order; £680.13 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Tierney & Co Solicitors
*Age given in case summary boxes refers to the defendant's age at the time of sentencing.
**Throughout this report disqualified from keeping animals includes owning animals, keeping animals, participating in the keeping of animals
and being party to an arrangement under which the person is entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are kept.
Jessie (left) ready for rehoming and
Bruiser (right) who was successfully rehomed.
5
www.rspca.org.uk/prosecutions/annualreport