DAVID DAVIES OF PENTRE-CWRT: HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN LLANDYSUL AND DREFACH FELINDRE
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Pentr-ecwrt Animal Abuser
In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, David Davies, a resident of Pentre-Cwrt, was found responsible for the severe neglect and suffering of two ponies, which ultimately led to their euthanasia. The incident, which drew significant attention from local authorities and animal welfare organizations, highlights the ongoing issues of animal abuse in the region.
It all came to light in February 2020 when an animal welfare officer from Carmarthenshire County Council conducted an unannounced inspection of Davies' property, located in the fields he rents in Drefach Felindre. During this inspection, the officer, who was waiting for Davies to arrive, noticed a shed covered with wood pallets and a tarpaulin. Peering through a hole in the structure, the officer observed two ponies standing in their own feces, in conditions that immediately raised alarm.
Accompanied by a veterinarian from the Animal Plant and Health Agency, the officer entered the shed to assess the ponies' condition. What they found was deeply distressing: the ponies, both of cob-type, were in a state of neglect with coats matted in dried feces, overgrown hooves, and tails so short that it appeared they might have been eaten out of boredom. The ponies had no access to food, with one having no water at all and the other with feces floating in his water bucket. They were kept in complete darkness, unable to see outside, and could only touch each other over a wooden barrier that separated them.
Further investigations revealed that these ponies had been abandoned on Davies' land. When the ponies were finally brought out into the daylight, their true condition became painfully evident. Both animals were in such poor health that they had to be euthanized just days later. The veterinarian involved in their treatment stated that he believed they had been suffering for at least 12 months, enduring neglect and pain.
This case was not isolated. Records show that David Davies had a history of animal welfare violations, including a previous conviction in 2015 for similar offenses. Following that conviction, Davies was banned for life from owning or keeping horses. Despite this, the recent case demonstrated a continued pattern of neglect and disregard for animal welfare.
Local authorities, including Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Cllr Philip Hughes, expressed their concern. Hughes stated, “If it were not for the actions of our animal health officer, who acted on a hunch to check the shed, these ponies may still be suffering today. This is an awful, and entirely avoidable, case of shocking neglect.”
In court, Davies pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the ponies and breaching his disqualification order. His sentencing included a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months, along with a 12-month community order requiring 250 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £6,367 and a victim surcharge of £122. It is important to note that Davies was already banned for life from keeping horses due to his previous conviction.
This case underscores the importance of vigilant animal welfare enforcement and the devastating consequences of neglect. The tragic fate of the ponies serves as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing oversight and accountability in animal care in the Pentre-Cwrt and wider Carmarthenshire area.
It all came to light in February 2020 when an animal welfare officer from Carmarthenshire County Council conducted an unannounced inspection of Davies' property, located in the fields he rents in Drefach Felindre. During this inspection, the officer, who was waiting for Davies to arrive, noticed a shed covered with wood pallets and a tarpaulin. Peering through a hole in the structure, the officer observed two ponies standing in their own feces, in conditions that immediately raised alarm.
Accompanied by a veterinarian from the Animal Plant and Health Agency, the officer entered the shed to assess the ponies' condition. What they found was deeply distressing: the ponies, both of cob-type, were in a state of neglect with coats matted in dried feces, overgrown hooves, and tails so short that it appeared they might have been eaten out of boredom. The ponies had no access to food, with one having no water at all and the other with feces floating in his water bucket. They were kept in complete darkness, unable to see outside, and could only touch each other over a wooden barrier that separated them.
Further investigations revealed that these ponies had been abandoned on Davies' land. When the ponies were finally brought out into the daylight, their true condition became painfully evident. Both animals were in such poor health that they had to be euthanized just days later. The veterinarian involved in their treatment stated that he believed they had been suffering for at least 12 months, enduring neglect and pain.
This case was not isolated. Records show that David Davies had a history of animal welfare violations, including a previous conviction in 2015 for similar offenses. Following that conviction, Davies was banned for life from owning or keeping horses. Despite this, the recent case demonstrated a continued pattern of neglect and disregard for animal welfare.
Local authorities, including Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Cllr Philip Hughes, expressed their concern. Hughes stated, “If it were not for the actions of our animal health officer, who acted on a hunch to check the shed, these ponies may still be suffering today. This is an awful, and entirely avoidable, case of shocking neglect.”
In court, Davies pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the ponies and breaching his disqualification order. His sentencing included a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months, along with a 12-month community order requiring 250 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £6,367 and a victim surcharge of £122. It is important to note that Davies was already banned for life from keeping horses due to his previous conviction.
This case underscores the importance of vigilant animal welfare enforcement and the devastating consequences of neglect. The tragic fate of the ponies serves as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing oversight and accountability in animal care in the Pentre-Cwrt and wider Carmarthenshire area.