Author: Jasmine Kleine

A couple have been given 14-week prison sentences, suspended for 12-months, and disqualified from keeping dogs for life after abandoning their pets at a house in Doncaster.

Frazer Hugh Massey (D.O.B 20.03.93) and Zoe Natasha White (D.O.B 11.03.87) – now of Morland Road, Sheffield – appeared before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 4 December).

They left the property on Wembley Road, Moorends in June. Their dogs were locked in an upstairs bedroom with no food or water.

At an earlier hearing they admitted, between 10 June and 28 June, causing unnecessary suffering to eight-month-old male Yorkshire terrier cross Rexy and seven-year-old female Jack Russell Missy by leaving them unattended without taking reasonable steps to ensure that adequate arrangements were made for their care.

RSPCA inspector Tamsin Drysdale said: “When I opened the door to the bedroom Missy ran straight past me, she was so desperate to get out.

“Then I saw the scratch marks in the carpet where the dogs had clearly been trying to escape.

“I went downstairs and gave Missy some water, and she drank excessively and for a long period of time.

“Rexy wasn’t so lucky. His body was amongst the clothes, empty takeaway boxes and fizzy drink bottles on the floor.”

Veterinary examination found that Rexy was very thin and had a lot of flea dirt in his coat. A subsequent post-mortem found he had most likely starved to death.

Missy was found to be underweight by the vet. She was still very thirsty and hungry, drinking a large volume of water and eating ravenously when food was offered. She was very itchy and had lots of live fleas and flea dirt in her coat.

She was taken on by RSPCA Doncaster and Rotherham Branch Animal Centre in Bawtry, from where she has been happily rehomed.

The court heard that the couple had left the property on 9 June after an incident during which police were called and had never gone back.

The RSPCA was contacted by a concerned member of the public four days later and placed seals on the door to establish whether anyone was attending. Inspector Drysdale spoke with White the next day who said the 15-year-old daughter of a friend was attending, and they were returning the day after, but that didn’t happen.

Inspector Drysdale said: “It’s hard to imagine any circumstances where I would leave my dogs locked in a bedroom alone, without food or water, and without ensuring that someone was attending to them, like Massey and White did here.

“The animals were discovered after I got a call from White saying she wanted to rehome them and directing me to a spare key so that I could go and get them. If they’d done that sooner, both dogs might have survived.”

In mitigation, the court heard that it was their first offences, they were remorseful and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

As well as the suspended prison sentence and disqualification, Massey was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. White was also given a curfew order between the hours of 7pm and 7am. They were ordered to pay £150 costs and a victim surcharge of £115 each.

Earlier this year, in a first for the charity, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rehomed a one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a working search dog at HMP Six Counties Search Team. Cookie is now training to detect drugs that are prevalent in the prison system and is the first of her breed to hold such an important role in the prison service.

During her 56 days at the animal rescue centre, staff noticed Cookie had exceptional agility skills and noticed she was extremely good at channelling her energy into games and activities.

Jeff Moore, Working Dogs Manager at Battersea, set to work on Cookie’s strengths and started her off on some basic training which was showcased on ITV’s Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs. Some of this training included sniffing out bits of a tennis ball that was hidden in rooms and vehicles – if there was one thing Cookie loved – it was a tennis ball.

Jeff said: “From her first session, Cookie showed great potential, bearing in mind she’d never done this type of sniffer training beforehand, so we were really hopeful that she’d be able to find a working home that would be well suited to her needs. She’s very sociable, clever and a very high energy dog and I knew in the right setting she could channel all that into doing something great.”

Battersea was thrilled when HMP Six Counties Search Dogs decided to take Cookie on and she has been in training at their centre for the past 12 weeks. Head Trainer, Mel Barker, said: “Cookie is currently still in training as it takes months to train up a dog ready for work, but she is doing really well. She has been training in areas that will assist in reaching her potential and will be fully assessed. Hopefully she will continue to develop and become an operational search dog.”

Jeff continued: “Cookie is a prime example of how Staffordshire Bull Terriers shouldn’t be judged on their looks alone. Cookie is smart and loves the mental and physical stimulation of playing search games and the interaction of working with the trainers. We hope that Cookie will pave the way for many other Staffies to become successful search dogs.”

A man from Hull has been given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for life after admitting causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of a West Highland terrier called Charlie.

Matthew Dennis Cassidy (D.O.B 19.03.76) of Rosedale Grove appeared before Hull Magistrates’ Court on Friday (23 November).

At an earlier hearing he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Charlie by subjecting him to mental and physical trauma and failing to meet his needs by failing to protect him from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to an untreated skin problem.

RSPCA inspector Jilly Dickinson said: “Cassidy was seen kicking and dragging Charlie around as he walked around the Anlaby Road and Linnaeus Street areas with him on 21 May.

“Witnesses saw Cassidy pick Charlie up by the scruff of the neck so that he was fully off the floor and shout in his face and later pick him up to chest-height by his collar, causing him to make coughing and choking sounds, and then throw him to the ground.

“A number of people called police and the RSPCA between 5.30pm and 8.30pm when a passing police community support officer was approached by a member of the public after two teenagers took Charlie from him.

“Charlie was taken to a vets where, luckily, he was found to be uninjured but suffering from a skin condition. Cassidy admitted he’d been suffering with it for six weeks. Happily he’s made a good recovery in RSPCA care.”

Cassidy was also sentenced to a 12-month community order including 10 days of specified activity, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a £150 victim surcharge. A deprivation order was placed on Charlie and his ownership has now passed to the RSPCA.

In mitigation, the court heard that Cassidy was drunk at the time, was disgusted by his behaviour and very sorry for what had happened.

Inspector Dickinson said: “Cassidy’s behaviour towards Charlie was appalling and clearly completely unacceptable.

“Like all pets, Charlie was entirely reliant on Cassidy who, like all owners, was responsible for keeping Charlie safe, happy and healthy and failed him in all these respects.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to all those involved in helping Charlie that day.

“I’m very happy that we’ll now be able to find him a great new home for him.”

A man has been handed a suspended prison sentence and disqualified from keeping animals for his involvement in running a puppy farm in his partner’s backyard in Kent.

Glen Hayes (DoB: 11/07/65) of Beatty Avenue, Gillingham, appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on the 26th of November for a sentencing hearing having been convicted earlier this month of 10 animal welfare offences.

He was disqualified from keeping animals indefinitely and handed a 20-week prison term suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, fined £3,500 and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Sentencing Hayes, the Judge reminded the court of his concluding remarks at trial that Hayes was working behind-the-scenes ‘back of house’ at the puppy farm.

The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) joined Metropolitan Police to execute a warrant at a property in Bexleyheath in January after calls from concerned members of the public who had bought puppies from the address in the run-up to Christmas.

When officers arrived they found 38 dogs and 18 cats being kept in filthy conditions in makeshift pens in the garden and in small runs and cages in the house.

RSPCA Inspector Carroll Lamport, who investigated, said: “We’d been contacted by numerous people buying puppies who had grown suspicious of the operation that was being run from the house in Bexleyheath. People were concerned that they were never allowed beyond the living room when they visited the house to see the puppies and many who had purchased dogs reported that their pets had quickly fallen ill.

“Sadly, in some cases, people’s beloved new pet puppies had been so poorly that they’d died.”

In the month leading up to Christmas, the RSPCA received six complaints relating to Basset hounds, dachshunds and a boxer. One of the pups – a dachshund – died on Christmas Day having contracted parvovirus.

When officers raided the property they discovered pedigree cats and fashionable dog breeds – such as Newfoundlands, dachshunds, French bulldogs and shih tzus – being kept in completely unacceptable conditions. All of the animals were removed and taken into RSPCA care.

One Newfoundland was found with seriously deformed legs and couldn’t walk while many of the dogs were covered in mud, faeces and their coats were matted with dirt. Some of the dogs had severe dental disease, some with docked tails and many had nasty eye infections or ears clogged with built-up hair and wax.

An independent vet who joined officers on the raid to check all of the animals said it was some of the worst conditions he’d ever seen.

Inspector Lamport added: “Everything was covered in filth and mud. All of the dogs were caked in the stuff – it was disgusting.

“The dogs had no way of getting out of the damp, dirty conditions. And the cats were being kept in cramped pens with two adults and a kitten found shut inside a tiny rabbit hutch-type enclosure.

“The house and garden were total mayhem but the living room – the only space prospective buyers were allowed access to – couldn’t have been more different. A pristine and impeccably clean space.

“Mr Hayes was involved in the day-to-day care of these animals and should have known better than to keep them in such horrendous conditions.

“Thankfully, we were able to save these lovely dogs and cats and they will all go on to lead much happier and healthier lives.”

All of the animals have since been rehomed or are in foster care awaiting new homes.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens said: “Unfortunately we know that lots of unscrupulous dealers will up their operations in the run-up to Christmas and try to cash in on families hoping to bring a dog into their lives.

“It’s devastating that, as in this case, many families will spend Christmas mourning the death of their new puppy when they should be celebrating a new addition to their home.

This is a list of the offences Hayes was convicted of:

• Between 18 January 2018 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a Newfoundland by failing to provide veterinary care in respect of conjunctivitis, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 28 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a Newfoundland by failing to address the dog’s coat which was extensively matted by a combination of mud and/or faeces, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 28 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a certain animal namely a white terrier type dog by failing to investigate and address the dog’s poor bodily condition, skin disease and periodontal disease, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 25 October 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniel by failing to provide veterinary care regarding severe periodontal disease, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 25 November 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a black Newfoundland by failing to investigate and address the dog’s orthopedic problems, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 11 January 2018 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to a tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniel by failing to provide veterinary care for otitis externa, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 14 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to six dogs by failing to address the dogs’ severely matted coats, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 14 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, caused unnecessary suffering to two dogs by failing to provide veterinary care regarding periodontal disease, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 25 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, failed to meet the needs of 38 dogs, contrary to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

• Between 25 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 in Bexleyheath, being jointly concerned with another, failed to meet the needs of 18 cats, contrary to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

A Pembrokeshire man has been fined after causing his 13-year-old dog to suffer with hyperthermia after leaving him in a hot car amid sweltering, dangerous June weather conditions.

John Foster, aged 66, of Merrion Village, Castlemartin, admitted causing his crossbreed dog – Boysie – to suffer after confining the dog to the boot of a hatchback car on 30 June, shortly after 1pm.

He pleaded guilty to an Animal Welfare Act offence at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon (19 November).

Dyfed-Powys Police and the RSPCA were alerted after the dog was left alone, and tied-up, in the car, at Haverfordwest’s Tesco superstore. Two windows were open on the vehicle with a gap of approximately an inch.

Witnesses reported distressed behaviour from the dog. Tesco staff made attempts to reach the car owner via PA announcements, but Foster failed to return to the car and Police were subsequently contacted.

By-standers squirted water into the car, with the dog seen licking the liquid from cardboard that was lining the boot. However, the water evaporated quickly due to heat within the car – highlighting the high temperatures the crossbreed was experiencing.

The Police – following discussions with the RSPCA – broke into the vehicle to rescue the dog.

Foster, when eventually returning to the vehicle, accepted no responsibility for the situation but was instead concerned about the damage to his car.

The temperature rose from 23°C to 25°C outside – but had reached 55°C in a neighbouring vehicle, demonstrating how dangerous the situation was for the veteran dog.

Clear, conclusive veterinary evidence highlights that the animal suffered as a consequence of the ordeal. Indeed, the episode caused the dog to have hyperthermia, a condition of having a body temperature greatly above normal.

Foster was given a £295 fine, and ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “This was a disgusting, and wholly inappropriate way to treat a dog.

“Hot vehicles are potential death-traps for dogs; and poor Boysie suffered unnecessarily and was left with hyperthermia, as a result of this individual’s negligence.

“Boysie had been left tied-up in the back of this car with no means of safe escape. The weather was sweltering – like it was much of this spring and summer – and my vehicle nearby reached temperature of 55 degrees.

“Members of the public at the store were left hugely distressed by the incident, with the dog dangerously overheated. Thankfully, the consequences were not fatal – but could easily have been so.

“This is a serious animal welfare offence – and we want to see prosecutions like this act as a robust deterrent to future offending, which can be so dangerous for dogs, potentially causing them heatstroke and other major complications.”

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Chief Inspector of specialist operations Mike Melly added: “This was a distressing incident, during which two officers had serious concerns for the welfare of the dog, who was trapped inside the car.

“They could not open the windows, and as the dog was in unnecessary distress, a decision was made to smash the car window under Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act. They then took the dog to a shaded area and gave it water to cool it down.

“We would like to remind pet owners to take extra care of animals in hot weather, and urge them not to leave them in a car for any amount of time – the consequences of the heat could be devastating.

“If you do see a dog trapped in a car, we would always advise you to call the police on 101, or call 999 if it is an emergency and the animal is suffering. If necessary, officers will take action to release any animals suffering in a hot car.”

Vets are being urged to report suspected dog fighting injuries by a leading animal welfare charity, following evidence eye-witness accounts are going unreported.

The appeal from the League Against Cruel Sports follows evidence dog fighting is on the rise, with a survey by the Royal Veterinary College showing 15 per cent of veterinary professionals suspecting they had treated at least one dog that was engaged in illegal dog fighting. To the detriment of dog welfare, however, most of the cases are going unreported amid members of the veterinary profession lacking confidence in how to report their suspicions.

Suzanne Heaney, Dog Fighting Programme Manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said:

“Vets are in a unique position to help tackle dog fighting where animals with suspected fighting injuries are encountered. It is extremely concerning such incidents are not being routinely reported through the mistaken perception that customer confidentiality prohibits veterinary professionals from raising the alarm with animal welfare charities or the police.

The League – which runs a dog fighting investigations department employing and benefiting from the experience of former police officers – stresses the government’s code of practice recognises animal welfare trumps client confidentiality and the vital role vets play in tackling this growing problem. To help overcome the common misconception the charity has published an educational resource for veterinary professionals outlining how to spot signs of dog fighting and what action can be taken.

Warning signs to look out for include puncture wounds in various stages of healing, typically to the head, neck, chest and forelimbs; marks around the neck from weighted collars used in fight training; owners paying in cash to avoid detection for a dog used in fighting; and owners seeking to purchase drugs or medical supplies (such as antibiotics), with a view to crudely treating injuries themselves.

Suzanne Heaney adds:

“The League urges veterinary professionals to familiarise themselves with the injuries and behaviours which indicate dog fighting, then come forward with any suspected cases in confidence to the League. It may be a cliché, but one very true, that it’s better to be safe than sorry – especially when the life of a dog forced to fight depends on people taking action.”