DAZIE HOWE'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN GOLDSBOROUGH: PUPPY STARVATION AND DEATH SHOCKS COMMUNITY

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the residents of Goldsborough, Dazie Victoria Howe, born on December 18, 1998, and residing on Lascelles Place, was found guilty of heinous animal cruelty involving an eight-month-old puppy named Joey. The tragic events unfolded over a period of at least one month, during which Howe subjected the helpless dog to prolonged starvation, ultimately leading to her death.

In February 2024, RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor responded to a report concerning a deceased dog at Howe’s residence in Goldsborough, a village near Harrogate. Upon arrival, she discovered the decomposing remains of Joey inside a crate located in the rear garden of Howe’s property. The crate was covered with a damp Christmas blanket, which was heavily soiled with feces and urine, indicating neglect and poor hygiene.

During her inspection, Inspector Proctor recounted that Howe immediately denied ownership of the dog, claiming, “that dog is not mine, I don’t even know if it is a dog or how it got there, but my dog died and that isn’t her.” She pointed to a medium-sized dog crate positioned near the gate, which was draped with a green fleece Christmas blanket. When the inspector lifted the blanket, she observed a thick yellow pet bed, a large grey plastic bowl filled with dirty water, and numerous piles of feces and urine puddles. Inside the crate, a tiny black dog lay deceased, her body in a state of advanced decomposition.

The smell emanating from the crate was described as extremely unpleasant, a mixture of the dead dog’s decay, feces, and urine. Inspector Proctor detailed that she used a towel to carefully lift the dog’s body, which appeared extremely emaciated, with ribs, pelvis, and spine protruding sharply through the skin. Maggots were crawling near her tail, further emphasizing the neglect she had endured.

Subsequent microchip scanning confirmed that the dog was indeed named Joey, and Howe was registered as her owner. However, Howe again denied ownership, stating she did not want “it” and told the inspector to “keep it.”

Post-mortem examinations revealed the tragic cause of Joey’s death. The veterinarian’s report described her as having a prominent skeleton, with her shoulder blades, ribs, pelvis, and hind limb bones clearly visible through her skin. Her stomach was empty, and hemorrhages—bleeds within the stomach lining—were present, which are common in cases of starvation. The small intestine contained minimal digesta, contradicting Howe’s claim that she had fed Joey on the morning of her death.

The veterinarian’s written evidence indicated that Joey’s suffering was caused by deliberate starvation, with no intervention to alleviate her distress. The damage was irreversible and ultimately fatal. The prolonged neglect, spanning at least a month, resulted in severe physical deterioration. The veterinarian explained that the process of starvation would have caused hunger pains, abdominal cramps, fat breakdown with toxin release, muscle metabolism pain, weakness, lethargy, collapse, coma, and death. This case starkly illustrates how quickly the affection for a new puppy can turn into neglect and cruelty, inflicting immense suffering and loss of life.

Photographs recovered from Howe’s mobile phone, taken from the breeder who sold Joey to her, showed a healthy, alert puppy with a shiny coat, starkly contrasting her emaciated state at death.

Howe was initially interviewed by Inspector Proctor on the day Joey’s body was discovered. She claimed she was unaware of who had placed the puppy in her garden and appeared baffled by the situation. Howe insisted her own dog was “fat,” “like a balloon,” and that the puppy was “skin and bones.” She explained that she had kept the crate in her kitchen and had scooped feces into a bag with a shovel, which she then placed inside the crate. Howe suggested that the wind might have blown the bag away, scattering the waste, and insisted that everything inside the crate belonged to her, except Joey.

On March 1, Howe was interviewed again after contacting the RSPCA, claiming that Joey had died from a seizure rather than starvation. Her changing accounts and denial of responsibility highlighted her attempt to evade full accountability.

Inspector Proctor described the investigation as extremely upsetting. She emphasized that Joey was a tiny, underdeveloped dog who only needed a small amount of nutrition to survive. Instead, Howe’s neglect deprived her of food and the opportunity to fend for herself inside the crate. The inspector noted Howe’s inconsistent stories and her failure to admit her neglect until court proceedings.

In sentencing, Howe received an 18-month community order, including up to 25 days of rehabilitation activities. She was fined £120, ordered to pay £100 in costs, and a surcharge of £114. Most notably, she was banned from owning, keeping, or controlling any animals for life, although she has the right to contest this ban after ten years. The magistrates’ decision sends a strong message condemning severe neglect and cruelty towards pets, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare and accountability in such cases.