LOUISE LAWFORD SENTENCED IN BIRMINGHAM OVER ANIMAL WELFARE OFFENCES AND THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF THE TAMWORTH FIVE

Louise Lawford, born on September 23, 1971, previously resided on Eastern Road in Sutton Coldfield but was believed to be in Grendon, Atherstone, Warwickshire as of March 2020. She was convicted in 2020 related to animal welfare offences connected to her pet-sitting business, Pawford Paws.

Lawford, a professional dog-sitter, claimed that five dogs she cared for escaped after being let off the lead in Hopwas Woods, Tamworth. In June 2019, these dogs, known as the 'Tamworth Five'—Ralph, Charlie, Pablo, Maggie, and Jack—went missing while in her care. Lawford stated that the dogs had run off in Hopwas Woods near Tamworth, but no traces of the animals have ever been found.

Despite extensive searches and the dogs being microchipped, no evidence of the Tamworth Five's whereabouts has been discovered. Prosecutors at court rejected Lawford's account but were unable to prove what exactly happened that day, resulting in the charges related to the pets' disappearance being dropped.

During the hearing, a member of the public gallery called Lawford a "dog killer," a phrase the judge condemned as "outrageous." The court was told that Lawford was entrusted with the care of the dogs, and her actions left her clients devastated.

The true fate of the Tamworth Five remains a mystery. Several pet owners, who attended the court for the sentencing, expressed their belief that their dogs are dead. Becky Parsons, one of the owners, said, "It’s a positive outcome because the court just did not believe the dogs were lost. It just doesn’t make sense." She also shared how the past six months had been very emotional for her, and the loss of her dogs, Pablo and Maggie, was so painful that she moved out of her home.

The case, initiated by Birmingham City Council, drew significant attention on social media, and Lawford was called a "dog killer" as she left court briefly before the sentencing. It’s important to note that Lawford was also prosecuted for other animal welfare offences unrelated to the disappearance. She admitted to breaching various conditions, including exceeding the limit on the number of dogs she could board, boarding dogs from different households, and failing to treat a dog with a skin condition.

Her defence team expressed that Lawford felt "extreme and continuing remorse" for what happened to the missing dogs. Her legal representative, Tom Walking, described her actions as "well-intentioned but incompetent care," and Lawford publicly apologized for the suffering of the dog owners.

Birmingham City Council welcomed the sentence, calling the case "unusual and upsetting," with senior animal welfare officer Vicky Allwood stating, "Only Mrs Lawford knows the truth of what happened to the five beloved pets placed in her care." As part of her sentence, Lawford must give up her elderly Labrador.

The sentences included a fine of £800, costs of £2,616, and a victim surcharge of £80. She was also banned from owning dogs for five years, until January 2025.