DEBI FERRY'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN WALLSEND: PETS LEFT TO STARVE IN ABANDONED HOME

Debi Ferry, born on June 23, 1973, and residing at 69 Matfen Gardens, Howdon, Wallsend NE28 0ER, has been convicted of severe animal neglect after abandoning her pets in a deplorable state. The case drew significant attention due to the shocking conditions in her former residence, where she left her cats to suffer and ultimately die from neglect.

Ferry had moved out of her property in Wallsend to live with her boyfriend, leaving behind her pets, including a three-year-old tortoiseshell cat named Megan. When she vacated the house, she did not take her animals with her, and as a result, Megan was left behind in an environment that quickly deteriorated into a scene of filth and decay. The remains of Megan were discovered in the living room, where she had succumbed to starvation and neglect.

The investigation into the property was initiated after a report of concern for the welfare of a cat living there. On August 25, 2022, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws visited the address in Wallsend. Upon arrival, she found no response at the door but detected a strong, foul smell emanating from inside, accompanied by a swarm of flies and rubbish scattered across the floor. The inspector noted the pathway to the rear of the property was cluttered with debris, and the kitchen appeared to be in a hazardous, unclean state.

Subsequent police action on August 29 led to entry being gained into the property, where the inspector made grim discoveries. Megan’s body was found lying next to a shopping trolley in the living room, in a state of advanced decomposition. The inspector, Rowena Proctor, described the scene as overwhelming: “The smell through the letterbox was dreadful and there were a lot of flies buzzing at the window. Once the door was open, the smell was so much worse than expected. Flies seemed to be everywhere, hundreds of them.”

Inside, the conditions were appalling. An old guinea pig cage base was being used as a makeshift litter tray, covered in feces. The kitchen was filthy, with dishes piled on the stove top, and the bench was stained with old tins of cat food, spoiled milk with flies stuck in the hardened surface, and dried pet food bowls. The bedrooms were equally unkempt, with bare floorboards, stained mattresses, food wrappers, and evidence of cat feces. The bathroom was swarming with flies, and the toilet contained at least 20 flies floating in the water.

One of the most disturbing findings was a hole in the side of the bath. When inspector Proctor removed the panel, she discovered a black and white cat that had been dead for some time. The animal’s pelvic bones were visible, and its eyes had been removed or had decayed away. The scene was further horrifying due to the presence of thousands of fleas, which swarmed onto the inspector once the panel was removed. The infestation was described as unprecedented by the officer, who had dealt with many flea-ridden animals before.

Following these discoveries, authorities arrested Ferry later that day at an address in Wallsend. During her police interview, she described her living conditions as a “s**t hole” and admitted that the state of the house had persisted for two to three months. She expressed remorse, stating she was disgusted with herself and acknowledged neglecting her cats. Ferry explained that she could not afford gas or electricity at the property and was staying with her partner instead.

Post-mortem examinations revealed that Megan suffered from a portosystemic shunt, a condition affecting liver function and food metabolism. The cat had also been suffering from a chronic flea infestation, which had caused inflamed skin and hair loss over several weeks. Despite these issues, Ferry had failed to seek veterinary assistance. Megan’s prolonged suffering was compounded by her untreated skin disease and her excessive grooming, which included hair ingestion, possibly triggered by hunger or distress. The official report concluded that Megan died due to starvation, exacerbated by her liver condition.

After sentencing, inspector Proctor commented on the case: “This was an extremely upsetting case to investigate. The conditions inside the house were horrendous, and the number of flies and fleas was on a scale I hadn’t seen before. No animal should ever be left to fend for itself in such circumstances. If anyone is struggling to care for their pets, we urge them to contact animal welfare charities for help and rehoming options, rather than abandoning their animals to suffer and die alone like poor Megan.”

Ferry was sentenced to a 12-week jail term, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay a total of £754 in fines and costs. Additionally, she received a lifetime ban on owning any animals, reflecting the severity of her neglect and cruelty.