DEBORAH FULLER'S CRUELTY IN LAWFORD: RIDGEBACK DOG DRAGGED BEHIND CAR AND MULTIPLE ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES

Deborah Fuller, a resident of Lawford, was at the center of a disturbing animal cruelty case that drew significant attention from authorities and animal welfare organizations. Born around 1960, Fuller was involved in a series of alleged neglect and abuse incidents involving her dogs, particularly a Ridgeback named Tango, and other animals under her care.

In June 2014, a shocking incident occurred on the B1066 near Long Melford, where Fuller was seen driving her vehicle through roadworks while a dog, later identified as Tango, was dragged behind it. Witnesses, including tree surgeons working nearby, observed the green car moving with a dog caught behind it, causing severe injuries to the animal. The onlookers shouted at Fuller to stop, and she continued driving until she passed the end of the single carriageway. The witnesses reported that the dog was visibly distressed and suffering from injuries, prompting them to record the vehicle’s registration number and contact the police.

Later that day, police officers and an RSPCA inspector arrived at Fuller’s property, but she refused entry. Inside an outbuilding, they found Tango, who was visibly injured with bandages on his paws. The dog had sustained multiple painful injuries, including the removal of skin from all four paws, grazing on his chest, and deep wounds on his elbow and leg. The severity of his condition led to his immediate removal and transfer to a veterinary clinic. After eight weeks in foster care, Tango made a good recovery, but the incident marked a significant breach of animal welfare laws.

During the court proceedings, Fuller denied the charges, but evidence presented by the RSPCA and witnesses proved otherwise. Detective Constable Michael Evans described Tango as appearing frightened, with visible cuts and grazes. When Fuller was asked if she could take the dog, she responded with hostility, tugging on Tango and making the officers feel uneasy. Consequently, Fuller was restrained, and Tango was taken into custody.

The court found Fuller guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Tango by neglecting to seek veterinary treatment and failing to ensure his safety during transport. The bench emphasized that a responsible dog owner would have secured the animal properly, either with a harness or in a cage, and would have sought urgent veterinary care. The judge stated that Fuller had multiple options, including visiting local vets, but chose to delay treatment without reasonable cause. As a result, Fuller was sentenced to pay £3,000 in costs, a 12-month community order, and a two-month curfew. Additionally, the court confiscated her 27 Ridgebacks, which were already in RSPCA care, and imposed a five-year ban on owning animals, which expired in April 2020.

Fuller’s history of animal welfare violations extended beyond this incident. Previously, she had been subject to complaints from neighbors about noise and feces, leading to the seizure of 44 dogs from her property on welfare grounds. Many of these dogs were found to be emaciated, and one had a facial tumour. However, that seizure was later deemed unlawful due to procedural errors with the warrant. Due to her conviction related to Tango, Fuller was not permitted to regain custody of her dogs.

Further legal issues arose in June 2021 when Fuller was prosecuted again for breaching her ban on keeping animals. Authorities discovered she had kept ten dogs, all in appalling conditions, including Wizard, who was suffering from a swollen lower leg and a painful bone tumour, ultimately leading to his euthanasia. Fuller was fined £490, ordered to pay £5,000 in costs, and received a three-month electronic monitoring curfew. She was also disqualified from owning any animals for three years, with the ban set to expire in June 2024.

In a related case, Keith Barton, born 3 March 1960, of Mwafrica Rhodesian Ridgebacks in Santon Downham, Suffolk, was found guilty of aiding Fuller in breaching her disqualification order. Barton received an 18-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £625 in costs.

Most recently, in February 2022, Fuller was convicted of multiple breaches of her disqualification order after police executed a warrant at her home. They removed two dogs, including a Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Basset Hound, along with a cat. The Basset Hound was found tethered in a caravan with cable ties, without access to water or proper bedding, and was unable to move freely. Inspectors also discovered horses kept in poor conditions at a local livery yard, which Fuller co-owned. Further inspections revealed she had hidden a cat under her bed and a Jack Russell upstairs in her home. For these violations, Fuller was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison, a seven-year ban on keeping animals, and ordered to pay additional costs and surcharges.

Throughout her history, Deborah Fuller’s actions have demonstrated a persistent pattern of cruelty and neglect, leading to multiple convictions and bans. Her case remains a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare laws and the consequences of failing to uphold them.