HANNAH SMITH'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN SHEFFIELD: DOG LEFT TO DIE IN COLD, FILTHY ROOM

Hannah May Smith, born on September 1, 1996, who has lived at various addresses in Sheffield including Colley Road, Parson Cross, and currently resides at 10 Hyde Park Terrace, Skye Edge, was found guilty in 2025 of neglecting and abandoning her dog, Zeus, leading to the animal's tragic death. The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the cruelty involved and the conditions in which the dog was left to suffer.

According to court records, Smith admitted to leaving her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Zeus, in a small, unheated utility room at her former residence on Colley Road, Parson Cross. She described the room as cold, dirty, and unsuitable for any living creature. On January 4, 2024, Smith contacted the RSPCA, informing them that she had last seen Zeus alive in the locked room. She claimed that she had provided the dog with food and water before leaving the property, believing that another individual with access to the flat would be caring for him. However, she expressed concern that this person had not attended to Zeus, which prompted her to seek help from the animal welfare charity.

On January 12, 2024, RSPCA Inspector Leanne Booth, accompanied by police officers, visited the property after seals had been placed over the locks the previous day to monitor any visits. During the inspection, they discovered Zeus dead in the utility room, which was described as cold, filthy, and heavily soiled with feces. Inspector Booth provided a detailed account of the scene, noting that the room was small, with an external wooden door leading outside, and lacked any form of heating, making it extremely cold.

She observed that the floor was covered in a large amount of feces, making it nearly impossible to walk without stepping in it. Mixed within the feces were remnants of dry dog food. There were three silver dog dishes present; one was overturned in the feces, while the other two were dry. Also found in the room was a metal dog training cage with its door open, containing a dirty blanket. At the back of the cage, next to the blanket, was Zeus, who was already dead and in rigor mortis. The inspector described Zeus as emaciated, with his ribs, hips, and spine clearly visible, and the shape of his skull prominent due to muscle loss. The area around his eyes was sunken, indicating severe malnutrition and neglect.

During police interviews, Smith stated that her last sighting of Zeus alive was on January 4, and she had seen him two days prior to that. She explained that since November 2023, another individual had repeatedly assured her they would collect Zeus from the flat, but this had not happened. Smith acknowledged that Zeus would not have survived without food or water and that he had endured a frightened and lonely final period of his life.

In her defense, Smith’s solicitor argued that her client’s mental health issues had contributed to her poor judgment in neglecting the dog. The court considered these factors when passing sentence. Smith was handed a two-year community order, which includes 250 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £750 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Additionally, she was disqualified from owning or keeping any animals for a period of ten years, a ban that will expire in February 2035.