WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A woman has been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after magistrates heard one of the worst cases of cruelty they had ever seen
A woman has been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after magistrates heard one of the worst cases of cruelty they had ever seen.
Police discovered Milo, a three-year-old husky, slowly choking after being tethered by the neck to a wardrobe door. The helpless hound was unconscious, sprawled in a squalid room drenched in urine and excrement.
Officers believed he was already dead. Despite frantic efforts to rescue him, Milo was subsequently euthanised to end his agony.
Amy Pamela Griffin Dawkins, of Rectory Road, Matson, Gloucester, was convicted of animal cruelty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
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Authorities had been called to her residence in December last year following concerns about the dog’s wellbeing.
Upon entry, they found Milo sprawled lifeless with his head twisted backwards and his collar fastened so firmly to a door handle that he was unable to settle on the floor.
There was no food – merely a water bowl positioned beyond his reach.
One constable said she recognised Milo was close to death as she severed the cord and carefully lowered his head to the ground.
Milo was transported urgently to a veterinarian, where he was discovered to be incredibly malnourished, parched, anaemic and afflicted with a heart murmur.
He additionally had overgrown claws, tangled coat and was caked in filth.
During treatment, he suffered repeated seizures but briefly rallied before his condition worsened again.
RSPCA inspector Richard Carr said, “Milo was extremely underweight; you could easily feel every rib and spine.
“His hip bones were prominent with no fat covering.
“He was mobile but seemed very subdued.
“He had dirt and faeces matted into his fur, and he had long nails.
“I was informed he needed further hospital care.
“After a few days, I was able to collect him, and he was placed in the care of a RSPCA animal hospital to continue his rehabilitation.”
Heartbreakingly, Milo’s condition deteriorated, and he had to be put to sleep.
Inspector Carr said: “This was not the outcome we had hoped for, and I know the condition of Milo was distressing for all involved, but we can take some heart in knowing he did finally receive the love he deserved in our care.
“I would like to thank the police for their prompt response and the person who reported the matter to them.
“We rely on the public to be our ‘eyes and ears’ to try and prevent terrible suffering to animals and prevent cases like this.”
Dawkins received a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, an 18-month mental health treatment order, six months of alcohol treatment and 15 rehab days.
Magistrates described it as “one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they had seen”.
The court heard that Dawkins struggled with alcohol issues and expressed regret.