ADRIAN APPLEYARD AND KARL HARWOOD FROM LEEDS SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOGS AT SHEFFIELD BUILDING SITE

In a disturbing case of animal neglect, Adrian Appleyard, born January 1977 and residing on Springhead Road, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0EX, along with Karl Harwood, born in 1978 and living on Ivy Gardens, Bramley, Leeds LS13 2NH, were found guilty in their absence of mistreating three dogs used as guard animals at a building site. The dogs, an Anatolian shepherd named Athena and two Caucasian shepherds called Koda and Sasha, were abandoned and left to suffer in harsh conditions on a site located on Hollin Busk Lane, Deepcar, Sheffield.

Between January 20 and January 23, 2018, the dogs were left unattended at the site, prompting intervention from RSPCA inspectors. Inspector Kim Greaves reported that the animals were confined in three shelters, but the roof of one shelter, which housed Koda and Sasha, had been blown off by the wind. This exposed the dogs to bitterly cold weather and snow, with no adequate shelter provided. Despite the freezing temperatures, the dogs had not been fed for several days, highlighting a severe neglect of their basic needs.

Inspector Greaves visited the site initially on Friday, January 19, after receiving a call from a concerned member of the public. When she returned on Monday, January 22, she observed that the situation remained unchanged, with tape seals still securing the gates of the compounds. She noted that Athena appeared brighter than during her first visit, likely because she had been given food and water, unlike the other two dogs. Greaves described seeing Athena’s ribs clearly, indicating she was malnourished, and expressed her belief that the dogs had endured a prolonged period of neglect, possibly lasting four to six weeks or more.

Another inspector, Jenny Ronksley, visited the site on Saturday, January 20, and Sunday, January 21, leaving her contact details for the owners, who failed to respond. Veterinary surgeon Dr. Jenny Turner from Springfield Vets also examined the dogs and confirmed that their housing and nutritional conditions were grossly inadequate.

Prosecutor Philip Brown explained to the court that the suffering of the dogs likely extended over several weeks, with Koda having developed behavioral issues that led a veterinarian to recommend euthanasia for the animal’s welfare. The neglect was so severe that Koda was euthanized to prevent further suffering.

In sentencing, Adrian Appleyard received a penalty of 150 hours of unpaid work, along with a five-year ban from owning any animals, a restriction that expired in September 2023. Additionally, a deprivation order was issued for the two surviving dogs, Athena and Sasha. Karl Harwood was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work but was not subject to any animal ownership ban. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of neglect and the importance of animal welfare laws in the region.