CHESHIRE
PERSONS
CONVICTED 26
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 54
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
PERSONS
CONVICTED 7
TOTAL
CONVICTIONS 24 CheshireA pony that had endured prolonged sickness due
to ragwort poisoning had to be euthanased, on
veterinary advice, to end her terrible suffering.
On her arrival at the scene, RSPCA
Inspector Cara Challinor had heard
a faint whinny coming from a
stable block. She saw the head
and neck of a shockingly thin grey
pony, so weak she was barely able
to lift her head, or reach one of
the nearby buckets of water. Her
neck was so sunken and thin it
resembled that of a llama.
A vet was called and the pony was
euthanased to end her suffering.
Although it appeared the straw
bedding around her had been
changed, an examination of the
pony's body revealed soiling and
staining to her right side, indicating
she had been lying there for a long
time. A post-mortem revealed
ragwort poisoning as the cause of
her illness.
When interviewed, the woman
said she would "spend quite a lot
of time each day" with the pony.
She had not, however, sought any
help or veterinary treatment.
Inspector Challinor said: "This is
one of the most truly harrowing
cases of prolonged neglect I have
witnessed during my time as an
inspector. How any reasonable
person can say they spend a lot of
time each day with a pony lying
in that condition and not seek
any help or treatment is beyond
me. She had this pony from six
months old, for approximately
11 years, yet she stood by and
allowed her to suffer dreadfully."
CambridgeshireRSPCA Chief Inspector Kat Parfitt found two
underweight Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs being
kept, without food or water, in an area full of hazards.
The woman's property was
reasonably tidy inside, however
this was in stark contrast to the
garden area where her dogs lived,
which was scattered with pieces of
metal, faeces and general rubbish.
Both dogs' ribs, hips and spines
were clearly visible and their body
condition scores were one out
of five, indicating severe weight
loss. One dog had severe dental
disease and many fractured teeth,
some with their pulp cavities
painfully exposed.
In the attending vet's opinion, both
dogs had been suffering for at
least three weeks - although this
was likely to have been longer due
to a lack of food and basic care.
The vet thought the male dog
had been experiencing dental
pain for several months at least.
She advised the dogs be
removed immediately to
prevent further suffering.
The owner acknowledged she
had not been feeding the dogs
enough or caring for them
properly, and signed them over
to the RSPCA.
One dog (pictured) was successfully
rehomed however, sadly, the
other had to be euthanased on
veterinary advice.
Investigating officer:
RSPCA Inspector Cara Challinor
Defendant:
Female 41, unemployed
Offence:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
Plea:
Guilty
Total convictions:
One
Sentence:
Disqualified from keeping
animals for life; 12-month
supervision order to undertake
15 sessions of the SAFE
Programme; £500 costs.
Prosecuted by:
FPH Law Solicitors
Investigating officer:
RSPCA Chief Inspector
Kat Parfitt
Defendant:
Female 32, unemployed
Offences:
Animal Welfare Act 2006 s4
and s9
Pleas:
Guilty
Total convictions:
Three
Sentence:
Disqualified from keeping
dogs for five years; 12-month
supervision order; six days'
attendance at a women's
emotional wellbeing course;
10 days' attendance at
an employment training
programme; £500 costs.
Prosecuted by:
Greenwoods Solicitors
Both dogs' ribs, hips
and spines were clearly
visible... indicating
severe weight loss.
8 PROSECUTIONS
Annual report OUR FRONTLINE WORK
2014