DANIEL LAHEY OF WOLVERHAMPTON SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO RESCUE DOG IN SILVERDALE

Daniel Christopher Lahey, born on October 4, 1991, and residing at Duke Place, Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 6PE, with links to Wolverhampton, was convicted in 2020 for animal cruelty after he left a rescue Staffordshire bull terrier, Rex, to starve and die.

Lahey, a chef with a lengthy criminal record including at least one previous conviction for domestic violence, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to Rex. Despite initially providing a foster home for the dog following charity home checks, volunteers later found Rex’s emaciated body inside a black bag. Lahey explained to RSPCA investigators that he hadn’t buried Rex because he couldn’t afford a spade.

The North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard that Lahey took Rex into his home on December 1, 2018. Initially, he kept the charity updated with regular photos and videos. However, contact with Lahey was lost over time, and on April 2, 2010, the charity was contacted by a relative to retrieve Rex’s body.

Veterinary examination revealed Rex was severely underweight, weighing only 12.35 kilograms. A post-mortem confirmed death by emaciation. The vet’s report noted there was a strong likelihood that Rex had been left without food for several days, potentially cold at night due to being confined in a shed, and psychologically distressed, as indicated by scratch marks at the shed door and soiling.

Lahey claimed Rex had difficulty gaining weight and stated he had left the dog with someone else during a few weeks’ absence in March, returning to find Rex dead.

Following the case, RSPCA inspector Charlotte Melvin commented: “It is horrendous to think of the suffering which poor Rex went through during the period leading up to his death. The vet's report states he had been left in the shed for a number of days at least as scratch marks could be found near the door as Rex had desperately tried to get out. There is never an excuse not to feed a pet or seek veterinary treatment—if people are in need of help, animal charities or rescue centres, like Rex’s original shelter, would have assisted.”

A spokesperson for Pebbles Legacy, the organization that placed Rex with Lahey, expressed their distress: “We are so upset about what has happened to Rex and the suffering he must have endured. He was fostered by Lahey, and he could have returned him to us at any time if he was struggling, but there was no indication of this. We conducted several home checks, which he passed, and he sent us weekly updates, including videos and photos showing Rex doing well and playing happily in the snow. It is heartbreaking to see how this turned out, and it was incredibly upsetting for all our volunteers.”

Lahey was ordered to pay a total of £850 in fines and was banned from keeping animals for life. As of December 2021, Lahey is reported to reside at Neve Avenue, Wolverhampton WV10 9BU, with partner Stacey Poulton.