Dog ban for owner who left injured dogs untreated
01.05.25
The owner of dogs who left them to suffer with untreated injuries in unsuitable conditions has been banned from keeping dogs for five years.
The RSPCA was called to her address after reports dogs living in the garden at the property had been fighting with each other.
An initial visit was made by an inspector from the charity, who made arrangements for her to take her injured dogs to the vet, but when she failed to attend the vet appointments, police were called to carry out a welfare check on the dogs.
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: "The garden appeared extremely muddy and I could see a shed that appeared to be in poor repair. I could not see any appropriate sleeping area where the dogs would be comfortable and protected from the elements and no bedding or water.
"We called out and the front downstairs window of the flat was opened by Worster, I introduced myself and explained the reason for my visit. She stated that the two injured dogs, Ivy and Coco, had not been taken to the vet as she had no money. She said that she had registered the dogs with a charity and showed me an email but no appointment had been booked.
"From my observations, the living conditions for the dogs were still unacceptable and the injured dogs had not received veterinary treatment."
Six dogs were removed by police. Five were placed in RSPCA boarding, with one dog, who is a suspected banned breed, placed in police boarding.The two injured dogs were seen and treated by a vet.
Ivy, a pale tan Bull terrier type was found to have obvious issues with both her eyes. Her left eye had matter around it and she was often squinting. Her eyelids appeared swollen and her eyelashes appeared to be interfering with her eyes. Her right eye had scabs around it and there were several scabs over her face.
Coco, a blue cane corso, had deformities to her ears which appeared to have been cropped and the right ear in particular was swollen, crusty and appeared infected. The areas under both her ears were very swollen and appeared inflamed. The area under her neck was similarly swollen and inflamed. There appeared to be puncture-type wounds in the area and a large area of bruising.
Alongside the two injured dogs, there were also three puppies and an adult dog living outside in the dirty and muddy garden.
In their report, the vet said: "In my opinion, the wounds around the eyes of Ivy would have been painful due to the inflammation and trauma caused when they were initially damaged. After the initial damage on the day of the fight, they would then have become uncomfortable and irritated, due to continued inflammation and low-grade infection.
"This suffering would have been for 3 days, since the fight. I would expect a reasonable dog owner to seek immediate veterinary attention once aware that their dog had been fighting and sustained such wounds, especially if they had been advised to do so by an RSPCA Inspector, and in my opinion that would be deemed good practice.
"For Coco, the neck and chest wounds would have been significantly painful both at the time they were caused and would have remained so as they became more swollen and bruised. The wounds were extensive and involved a large area of skin and muscle. Had these wounds continued to be left unattended then I believe they would have become infected and that Coco would have become ill in herself.
"The right ear infection should have been obvious to any reasonable owner paying regular attention to their pet. The ear would have felt sore and irritated due to the ulceration present."
In sentencing, District Judge Dickens, who had dealt with the case at trial, said the dogs were kept in horrific conditions and whilst initially she intended to keep them in acceptable conditions things deteriorated. She said she had denied the dog's medical treatment, despite being warned by the RSPCA they needed urgent care.
Alongside the disqualification from keeping dogs, she was also sentenced to a one-year community order with 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, when she was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates Court on April 10.
All the dogs in RSPCA care have now been rehomed, aside from one of the puppies, Blacks, who is now known as Hooper, who is in the care of the team at RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre and still looking for her perfect match. To find out more about Hooper, and how to offer him a home, please see his rehoming page.
