September 2023 Serial animal abuser let animals starve Serial animal abuser and hoarder Amy Youll, 31, from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester – let nine of her pets starve while living in ‘disgusting squalor’ and left the bodies of multiple dogs, cats and a rodent decomposing. RSPCA officers had to wear face masks to combat the overwhelming smell of rubbish and faeces at a house in Todmorden Road, Bacup, Lancashire, where Youll was living with eight starving dogs and a cat. The property was so full of waste and debris there were maggots crawling on surfaces in the kitchen, limited space to walk, and rooms so full of junk they were completely inaccessible. A cat and eight dogs, who were all matted and underweight, were rescued from the house by the RSPCA. Some were so frightened that they had to be carried out to waiting vehicles. Soon after, private contractors who had been called in to clean up the house, found the badly rotting carcasses of five small to medium-sized dogs in an outside area at the back, as well as severed parts of the remains of several cats inside. The dogs had been placed in carrier bags, boxes and planters and were heavily infested with maggots. Skulls, jaws and teeth were visible, but such was the state of decomposition, it was not possible to tell how the animals had died. The decomposing remains of a pet rodent were also found in a cage in an upstairs bedroom. All nine surviving animals went on to make a full recovery thanks to the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk and District branch, which rehomed them from its animal centre in New Cut Lane, Southport. Youll, who is a previous offender, had denied three animal welfare offences but was found guilty at a trial in her absence last October 2022. Another defendant in the case was sentenced in November 2022 (name not reported) after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences and was banned from keeping all animals for eight years. Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 24 months; 25 rehabilitation activity days, Indefinite ban applicable to all animals