BLYTH DOG ABUSE CASE: MARGARET STANNERS AND KEIRON CRUISE SENTENCED FOR MALNOURISHMENT OF GERMAN SHEPHERDS

In a distressing case that has shocked the community of Blyth, Northumberland, two local residents, Margaret Stanners and Keiron Cruise, have been found guilty of neglecting their pet dogs, leading to severe malnutrition and suffering. The incident involved two German Shepherds, named Buddy and Bella, who were discovered in a deplorable state at their home on Benridge Park, NE24 4TE.

According to court records, both Stanners, born around 1975, and Cruise, born approximately in 1986, admitted to causing unnecessary pain and hardship to the animals. The dogs were found emaciated, infested with fleas, and suffering from various health issues when RSPCA inspector Rachael Hurst visited their residence on February 27, 2023. Despite Stanners’s claims that the dogs were “getting better” after an initial period of weight loss, the inspector’s observations painted a starkly different picture.

Inspector Hurst described the dogs as appearing “incredibly thin,” with their ribs, spine, and hip bones clearly visible as they ran out from the back of the property to greet her. She noted that their fur was sparse across their backs, their skin was flaky, and there was a strong, unpleasant odor emanating from them. The inspector’s detailed statement highlighted the severity of their condition, which was consistent with neglect.

Stanners permitted the inspector to take Buddy, who was approximately 10 years old, and Bella, aged eight, to veterinary clinics for assessment. The veterinary examination revealed alarming details: Buddy weighed only 21.4kg (47.2lb) and was rated a mere one out of nine on the body condition scale. He was suffering from a flea infestation, an eye infection, and mild anemia. Bella, slightly lighter at 18.3kg (40.3lb), was also rated one out of nine. She exhibited hair loss on her back and skin abrasions caused by incessant scratching due to fleas.

Veterinary experts concluded that both dogs had experienced significant weight loss primarily due to inflammatory bowel disease. However, the report emphasized that their weight would not have fallen to such dangerously low levels had they been properly fed. The dogs responded positively to care provided by the RSPCA, gaining weight steadily over two months—Buddy gained 7.7kg (17lb), and Bella gained 7kg (15.4lb).

Following the court proceedings, RSPCA inspector Rachael Hurst expressed cautious optimism about the dogs’ recovery. She stated, “They have both put on weight and are making progress in our care at Felledge Animal Centre, although they are not quite yet ready to be rehomed.”

In sentencing, the court handed down an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Stanners and Cruise were ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £154. They were also banned from owning or keeping animals for a period of five years, a restriction that will remain in effect until August 2028. This case underscores the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglect within the Blyth community.