Author: Jasmine Kleine

A woman who was involved in the breeding and selling of sick and dying puppies in Solihull has been given a suspended prison sentence and disqualified from keeping dogs for life.

Louise St John Poulton (DoB: 06/03/74), now of Highgrove, in St Albans, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (3 April) where she pleaded guilty to six counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs and three offences of failing to meet the needs of a number of dogs.

An RSPCA investigation was launched after heartbroken owners reported buying sick and dying dogs including schnauzers, Westies and pugs from Poulton and her partner Sean Kerr – who was convicted and sentenced of the same offences earlier this year.

Inspectors discovered animals living in appalling conditions, including four dogs, three of whom were pregnant, locked in a dark outbuilding.

Poulton was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was disqualified from keeping dogs for life. She was also ordered to pay £15,000 in costs.

The hearing brings an end to a 16-month-long, large-scale operation by the RSPCA to tackle puppy farming in the Midlands.

The animal welfare charity, who are on the frontline of fighting the illegal puppy trade, first launched an investigation into Poulton and Kerr following a number of reports from members of the public who had bought puppies which had quickly fallen ill and, in some cases, died.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal led the investigation. She said: “We were contacted by people who had bought schnauzers, Westies and pugs from a farm in Coventry Road, Bickenhill.

“Many of them had fallen ill within just a few hours and, tragically, some of them died within just a few days.

“Not only did the new owners have to cover hefty vet bills but they also had to deal with the trauma and heartbreak of watching their new puppies die in front of their eyes.”

After gathering evidence from a number of people whose puppies had died, the RSPCA and police officers executed a warrant at a farm near Solihull on 22 December 2015. Thirty-seven dogs and puppies – found living in the farmhouse and in sheds and stables throughout the farm – were removed, a number of which were pregnant, and 27 further pups were later born in RSPCA care.

Some of the dogs had injuries and health problems and officers also recovered the body of a dead puppy (pictured above) wrapped in a plastic carrier bag in the footwell of a van, parked at the farm.

“The dogs were being kept in disgusting conditions and were absolutely terrified,” inspector Boal added.

“Some were being kept locked in rooms inside the house, including a frightened pregnant shih tzu who was being kept in a cold downstairs loo. And four dogs – three of which were pregnant – had been locked in an outbuilding in total darkness, there was no light or ventilation whatsoever. In fact, we didn’t even realise they were there until a few hours into our search of the property.

“All of the dogs were petrified. The minute you touched them they froze from fear.”

On a whiteboard in one of the stables, officers found a whiteboard with instructions for the daily care of the dogs, including: ‘Keep puppies quiet, do not let them bark. Squirt them or use whip to crack in yard.’

Paperwork found at the house tied the couple to the sales of puppies and 17 mobile phones were removed and analysed which revealed texts from some of the buyers who had contacted the RSPCA.

“The health and welfare of these dogs isn’t important to the sellers who see them just as commodities to be brought and sold,” inspector Boal added.

“The breeding stock are kept in inadequate conditions and used to produce litter after litter with little or no regard for their welfare. And puppies are born with deformities or health problems as a result of poor breeding and don’t get the appropriate care in their formative weeks which means they can have serious health problems or behavioural issues.”

Most of the dogs rescued from the farm were fostered. Two of the puppies born in RSPCA care were fostered by Tom Mather, who lost his two Westies five days after buying them from Ms Poulton.

Ben and Max (pictured) had severe parvovirus and had to be put to sleep leaving Tom heartbroken. A few months later, he offered to foster shih tzu cross poodle, George, and Jack russell terrier cross border terrier, Archie, who he will now adopt permanently.

“George and Archie are part and parcel of life now, they are my little babies,” Tom explained.

“These two have fallen on their paws, I dread to think what might have happened to them if they hadn’t been rescued by the RSPCA.”

Vets have saved a dog after it gobbled up three dummy teats and a glow stick, which caused a near-fatal blockage in her stomach.

Megan Marron (22) took 11-month-old Caverpoo* Rosie to Middlesbrough PDSA Pet Hospital, as she was showing some worrying symptoms: “We didn’t know what was wrong – Rosie was being sick and was very lethargic, which is really unlike her as she’s usually full of energy”, she said.

Once at PDSA, X-rays revealed a potentially fatal blockage in her intestine and several other items in Rosie’s stomach. PDSA Vet Nigel Crane explained: “Dogs often use their mouth to investigate objects, and sometimes swallow things by mistake. Although objects sometimes pass through without harm, some get stuck in the dog’s stomach or intestines, which is extremely dangerous and can be life-threating.”

Poor Rosie was already very weak when she arrived at the hospital and vets were uncertain whether she would survive an emergency operation. But it was her only chance of survival. Vets were shocked when they removed the items and realised what they were – the dummy teats had clearly been inside her for some time.

Megan added: “Rosie was at death’s door when we left her with PDSA, and we were devastated to think we might lose her. When we heard she’d survived the operation and was recovering well, we were over the moon. She really is part of the family, I’m so grateful to PDSA for saving her life – they were amazing.

“I don’t know how she got hold of these things. The dummies must have been my daughter’s but they’re not usually left lying around. I have absolutely no idea where she got hold of a glow stick though!”

Rosie made a remarkably quick recovery and was soon back to her normal bouncy, mischievous self. Megan now keeps a very close eye on her at home and is extra careful when out on walks.

Vet Nigel added: “PDSA vets have removed very bizarre items from pets over the years, including tent pegs, kitchen knives, radio aerials and plenty of toys.”

“Signs that your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t include being sick, drooling excessively or having difficulty breathing. Call your vet immediately if you notice any of these things. It’s also a good idea to teach your dog basic commands such as ‘leave’ and ‘drop’ from a young age.”

Two men from Redcar have been jailed for four months after admitting their part in hammering a nail into a dog’s head before burying him alive, in a prosecution case brought by the RSPCA.

Owner Michael Alan Heathcock of Ontario Crescent and his friend Richard Mark Anthony Finch of Geneva Drive appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on March 1st 2017.

RSPCA inspector Nick Jones said: “A couple out walking discovered terrier ‘Scamp’ in Kirkleatham Woods around midday on Wednesday 19 October 2016, after hearing a whimpering sound and going to explore a mound of earth.

“They got some local workmen to dig him out with a shovel, and, if that wasn’t horrific enough, Scamp had a nail sticking out from between his eyes.

“They called the police before rushing Scamp to a nearby vets who were left with no choice but to put him to sleep. That’s when we were notified.”

The RSPCA appealed for information in the media and two days later, on Friday 21 October 2016, Heathcock and Finch attended a police station where they were arrested and interviewed by the RSPCA.

At a hearing last week, Heathcock admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act – (1.) causing unnecessary suffering to Scamp by inflicting blunt force trauma and hammering a nail through his skull and (2.) between 19 May and 19 October 2016, causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide necessary veterinary care and attention for Scamp’s numerous ailments including incontinence, inappetence, hind limb weakness and disorientation.

The court heard that Scamp had been suffering from an untreated brain tumour for a number of months which caused the symptoms.

Today, Heathcock was sentenced to four months in prison and a lifetime disqualification on keeping any animals. He was ordered to pay £100 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Finch admitted one offence under the Animal Welfare Act of aiding or abetting, counseling or procuring Heathcock to cause unnecessary suffering to Scamp by the infliction of blunt force trauma and the hammering of a nail through his skull.

Today, he too was sentenced to four months in prison and a lifetime disqualification on keeping any animals. He was also ordered to pay £100 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

In mitigation, the court heard that Heathcock couldn’t afford to pay for a vet and felt that they were putting Scamp out of his misery. It heard the pair thought he was already dead when they buried him.

RSPCA inspector Jones said: “Scamp had been suffering for months but instead of seek veterinary treatment his owner and his owner’s friend decided to take him to a secluded spot in the woods and hammered a nail into his head.

“There were four indentations in his skull, where they had attempted to hammer the nail in and failed. Scamp had also suffered a burst skull fracture from a large trauma ‘such as a hammer’.

“It is very hard to think about what he went through. It’s been a truly harrowing case for everyone involved.

“The only consolation is that Scamp’s final moments were spent being comforted by the kind strangers who found him, and the wonderful staff at the vets.”