CHLOE CUTLER'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN NEWTON AYCLIFFE: PET ROTTWEILER LEFT TO STARVE AND DRINK BLEACH

Chloe Jane Cutler, born on March 10, 1993, and residing on Henderson Road in Newton Aycliffe with the postal code DL5 5PE, was convicted of a deeply disturbing act of animal cruelty that shocked the local community. Over a period spanning from December 23, 2016, to January 23, 2017, she deliberately abandoned her pet Rottweiler in an empty, derelict property, neglecting it to the point of death.

Cutler, a single mother of three children, made the conscious decision to leave her young dog behind in a vacant house, hoping that the animal would perish so she could later bury it without anyone discovering her actions. Her neglect was prolonged and severe, with the dog suffering for months before its tragic demise. The RSPCA, which investigated the case, described the dog's death as a result of prolonged starvation, a consequence of her deliberate abandonment.

When authorities entered the abandoned property, they discovered the lifeless body of the Rottweiler, which was found under a blanket. The dog was extremely emaciated, and a post-mortem examination confirmed that it had died from starvation over an extended period. The investigation revealed that the dog had also ingested bleach from the toilet, likely out of extreme thirst, as the house was reportedly covered in dog feces and the dog had been left without proper care.

Prior to this tragic discovery, the RSPCA had previously visited the same property on Henderson Road and found the dog in a reasonably healthy condition. However, subsequent visits revealed the worsening state of the animal. Cutler claimed she moved out of the house just before Christmas 2016 after losing her electricity card, which she said was the reason for her departure. She then stayed with her mother, Angie Coates, on Kimblesworth Road in Newton Aycliffe, but she was unable to take the dog with her because her mother already had other animals.

Following this, Cutler moved to Stockton, where she maintained that she was feeding the dog at least every other day. A probation report indicated that she was aware of the dog's deteriorating condition for approximately four weeks but lacked the financial means to seek veterinary care. Despite this knowledge, she returned to the abandoned house and left the dog there again, fully aware of its dire state. Her intention, as she later admitted, was to find the dog dead and bury it in her garden, believing that no one else needed to know about her neglect due to her embarrassment and emotional distress.

During the court proceedings, the defense highlighted her circumstances, describing her as a young woman struggling to cope with raising two young children alone. The mitigation argued that she took full responsibility for her actions and expressed remorse for her neglect. The prosecution, represented by Kevin Campbell on behalf of the RSPCA, painted a grim picture of the dog's suffering, emphasizing that the animal endured a long, painful death that could have been easily prevented had she provided basic care. Campbell stated, “When the RSPCA got into the property they found a very skinny Rottweiler carcass, the dog was dead under a blanket. It was sent off to the pathologist who said the dog died of starvation over many months. It could have been avoided had she just given it some food, there were three tins of dog food on the side. The dog had also drank bleach from the toilet because it was so thirsty and the whole house was covered in dog poo.”

Judge Nick Edgar, presiding over the case at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court, expressed his outrage at the cruelty inflicted upon the animal. He stated, “I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself, this is a particularly callous case. You stayed away from a property that you imprisoned this dog in hoping it would die so you could dispose of it. It’s absolutely terrible. I hope you’re caring for your children better than you cared for the dog that died.”

As a result of her guilty plea, Chloe Cutler was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, which was subsequently reduced to 17 weeks due to her cooperation. The sentence was suspended for 18 months, and she was ordered to pay a total of £475 in costs and charges. Additionally, she received a lifelong ban from owning or keeping animals, a measure intended to prevent any future cruelty. This case has drawn significant attention to the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglect in the Newton Aycliffe area.