RSPCA CONDEMNS CARAVAN WOMAN LIVING WITH UP TO 15 DOGS
A woman kept a dozen dogs in “appalling conditions” -including several in a tiny caravan in which she lived.Now magistrates have sentenced Charlotte Richards after what RSPCA officials described the “horrendous” conditions in which the dogs were kept.
Richards, 42, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to ensure their welfare and not protecting them from pain, injury, suffering and disease.
Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard the dogs, a mixture of terrier cross chihuahuas and dachshunds were kept in a caravan and a garage at Clarkson Street, Ravensthorpe.
Philip Brown, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said a man called Andrew Roberts who is related to the defendant allowed her to stay on his property as she had “accommodation difficulties.” He said the arrangement was that she could stay in the caravan and bring with her a “small number of dogs.” However, Mr Brown said the numbers grew to a maximum of 15.
He added: “Mr Roberts had his own dogs so he made arrangements to partition the garden area so they could exercise without coming into contact with each other.
“However, he says she would be out of the property for many hours, not returning until midnight or the early hours.
“She would take two to three dogs leaving the other dogs locked in the caravan.
He didn’t have a key so he could not ascertain if they were being properly fed or watered.
“The situation became of increasing concern to him.
RSPCA inspector Gemma Fowler, attended the property on July 14, 2014, and after observing conditions in the garage the police forced entry to the caravan.
She described the conditions as “horrendous” with the smell from the dogs’ faeces as overpowering.
The dogs were flea-ridden and suffering from dehydration.
Clive Rees, in mitigation, said his client suffered from depression.
He said: “It seems that much of this came about through her goodwill, that she could not say ‘No’ to people, hence the increasing number of dogs she found herself responsible for”.
Kashmir Khangura, chairman of the bench, sentenced Richards to a 12-month community order with 30 sessions of activity.
She was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
In addition she was told to pay £260 towards the £14,970 costs, most of which was incurred through boarding the animals.
Every week £5 will be taken from her benefits to pay the costs.
