MAITE GARCIA PET HOARDER FROM WELLINGBOROUGH BANNED FROM KEEPING ANIMALS UNTIL 2026

Maite Garcia, also known as Maite Garcia Rodriguez, a woman born around 1970 and residing on Nightingale Lane in Wellingborough NN8 4TP, has been found guilty of severe animal cruelty and neglect. Her conviction stems from a series of charges related to the mistreatment of her numerous pets, which included 20 animals in total. Garcia was sentenced to a ban on keeping any animals until July 2026, reflecting the seriousness of her offenses.

Garcia pleaded guilty to 14 counts of animal cruelty and neglect, with specific charges highlighting her failure to provide proper care for her pets. Among these, two charges concerned the diets of five cats, which the RSPCA described as not being “suitable.” The investigation revealed that seven domestic cats were subjected to conditions that left them vulnerable to pain, injury, suffering, and disease. Evidence showed that some of these cats suffered from ear mite infections and were kept in environments that were clearly inappropriate for their well-being.

One notable case involved a Bengal-style adult cat named Sassy, who was found in a state of poor health and was not taken to the veterinarian despite her condition. Additionally, Garcia failed in her duty of care towards a Ragdoll-style cat named Lily, neglecting to treat her for an ulcerated eye. The neglect extended to other animals as well, including a female bulldog suffering from eye and skin conditions, a Boxer dog named Zeus, and another bulldog with multiple health issues affecting her skin, eyes, and ears.

These disturbing details emerged during a court hearing at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court, where RSPCA inspectors recounted their visit to Garcia’s residence on August 5, 2015. The inspectors had been alerted by concerns that a cat was excessively thin. Upon entering the property, they discovered a scene of neglect: five dogs and fifteen cats with scaly skin, scabs, sores, and signs of malnutrition. Many animals were underweight, some completely bald, and the environment was grim. There was no visible evidence of food or water on the floor, and the cats were overcrowded, often placed on tables and chairs.

Further inspection revealed that seven cats were confined in an unsuitable wooden pen, with diarrhoea on the floor and litter trays saturated with excrement. Garcia admitted during a police interview that she had not taken any of her animals to the vet since December 2014. She claimed to have been aware of her pets’ skin conditions, which she had researched online and treated with shampoos, but she did not seek veterinary care for their eye problems, believing they were not suffering. Garcia insisted that she believed her pets were not in pain and stated she fed them two meals a day, spending up to £100 monthly on dog food. When questioned about the whereabouts of the food, she told inspectors it was in the toilet, which was locked, and they had not checked there.

Her collection of pets included both male and female bulldogs, boxers, a Persian cat, a Bengal cat, and a Ragdoll cat. The court learned that Garcia had received approximately £10,000 following a successful employment tribunal, much of which she used to purchase her animals. She also admitted to buying a kitten for £700 shortly before the inspection. Despite her financial difficulties in paying vet bills, she continued to acquire pets, including a kitten purchased just prior to the authorities’ visit.

During the proceedings, Sean Smith, representing Garcia, explained that her obsession with owning pets was driven by her desire to compensate for an unhappy home life. He described her as someone who bought animals impulsively, with each purchase providing a temporary sense of relief. Smith emphasized that Garcia had not fully considered the financial responsibilities associated with caring for her animals, particularly veterinary expenses. The court was told that her actions were not malicious but stemmed from a lack of foresight and understanding.

In sentencing, the chairman of the bench, John Baker, highlighted the gravity of the case. He stated, “These are serious offences due to the number of animals and the neglect caused. You knew all along that you could not look after them. This clearly crosses the custody threshold but we believe that you need some help.”

RSPCA inspector Polly Underwood, who led the investigation, expressed her concerns about the suffering endured by the animals. She stated, “There were so many animals in the house and there were signs of suffering. The dogs were thin and with skin conditions, and there was limited food and water available. There were also a number of cats at the property which were in a poor condition and as a result had to be removed. There were a large number of animals involved in this case and it is so important to get the message across that people should not take on more animals than they can cope with as it may lead to suffering.”

As part of her sentence, Garcia was ordered to give up three dogs, three cats, five rabbits, and a parrot still in her care. She received an eight-week suspended prison sentence, along with a 20-day rehabilitation program, 140 hours of unpaid work, and a financial penalty of £500 in court costs plus an £80 victim surcharge. Additionally, she was banned from keeping any animals for a period of ten years, with the ban set to expire in July 2026.