TRAGIC DOG ABUSE CASE INVOLVING ELLIE O’MALLEY AND ALEX JORDAN IN SALFORD

Ellie Leigh O’Malley, born on 19 July 1998, of Tenby Drive, Salford M6 7HQ, and Alex Jordan, born around 2002, of Eastham Way, Little Hulton, Salford M38, have been convicted for causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, which resulted in the animal's death.

The RSPCA responded to concerns at the home of mother-of-three Ellie O’Malley after she reported her dog, a brindle bull crossbreed named Rocko, had been attacked by a horse on football fields. She claimed that aside from an injured leg, Rocko seemed fine initially. However, a few days later, he refused to eat or evacuate, and eventually died. O’Malley admitted that her boyfriend and father of at least one of her children, Alex Jordan, buried Rocko in their garden.

Police were called to investigate, and Rocko’s body was exhumed. RSPCA Inspector Deborah Beats, who led the investigation, described the condition of the dog: “He appeared to be in an emaciated state with hips, ribs, and skull bones visible.”

Rocko was taken to the RSPCA’s Manchester and Salford Animal Hospital, where a post-mortem revealed he was ‘very emaciated,’ weighing only 11.6kg. The examination showed ‘severe muscle atrophy,’ with ribs, the spine, and pelvic bones prominently visible. The post-mortem also found ‘pieces of food stuck in his mouth and foreign material in his stomach including chicken, plastic, and rubber’, as well as a gastric ulcer.

The veterinary report concluded that the ‘two likely causes of death are emaciation and choking,’ and noted that his owners should have ‘investigated or addressed the cause of his poor bodily condition and weight loss.’

Both O’Malley and Jordan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Inspector Beats commented on the case: “This was a sad case resulting in the death of a young, emaciated dog. Rocko’s body was in such a poor state when we exhumed his remains from the garden. This tragedy could have been entirely prevented had he received proper care and nutrition, which is the responsibility of any pet owner.”

In sentencing, Alex Jordan received a 12-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, along with 180 hours of unpaid work; he was also ordered to pay costs of £400 and was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years. Ellie O’Malley was given a 12-month community order, including 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a £100 fine, and a £114 victim surcharge. She was similarly disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.

Source: Manchester Evening News