MARY HOWE SENTENCED IN HUNTINGDON FOR ANIMAL NEGLIGENCE CASE

Mary Siobhan Howe, born December 1969 and residing in Keyston, Huntingdon PE28 0RB, was convicted in 2022 of starving and neglecting two Belgian Malinois rescue dogs. Howe, who founded and previously managed Mars & Minerva Malinois Rehoming Ltd, faced charges following a private prosecution initiated by Jessica Sarkar, a volunteer with the dog rescue organization New Dawn Malinois Rehoming (NDMR).

In 2019, Howe volunteered as a foster carer for NDMR, temporarily taking care of Belgian Malinois dogs Buddy and Monty under an agreement that prohibited rehoming without NDMR’s approval. However, after disputes with the organization, Howe refused to return the dogs and established her own company, Mars & Minerva Malinois Rehoming Ltd.

In April 2021, NDMR received reports that Howe's company was renting kennel space in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, with concerns about the dogs' living conditions. Jessica Sarkar and two others visited the kennels, describing them as "run-down". They found Monty and Buddy in a severely weak and emaciated state, with their bones prominently visible through their coats. A veterinarian assessing the dogs gave each a body condition score of 1/9, the lowest possible. One dog was found with faeces matted into his coat. The kennels smelled strongly of death, and witnesses were visibly distressed, describing the dogs as weak, with sunken eyes, ravenous for food, and extremely thirsty.

Over subsequent months, Buddy’s body condition score improved from 1/5 to an "ideal" 5/9, which a veterinarian explained was due to a change in ownership and better diet provision. Howe was charged with four offences: two counts of causing unnecessary suffering under s.4(1) AWA 2006 for failing to feed the dogs, and two breaches of s.9(1) AWA 2006 related to their welfare, including inadequate housing and allowing Monty to be covered in faeces without veterinary treatment. The prosecution dropped one of these charges due to a lack of expert evidence to rule out potential heart issues as the cause of Monty’s suffering, but proceeded with the remaining three.

The court found that although Howe had taken responsibility for the dogs, she neglected to take them to the vet or provide adequate nutrition. The judge determined that, due to malnutrition, Buddy had suffered unnecessarily. Sentencing included an 18-month community order, a 12-month mental health order, 21 days of rehabilitation, and a £6,000 contribution to costs. Howe was also handed a 10-year ban from owning, keeping, or influencing the care of animals, and from dealing in animals or participating in arrangements controlling their welfare. This sentence was temporarily stayed pending an appeal to the Crown Court, so the ban has not yet been enforced.

Advocates for Animals Solicitors represented the case.

Additional background indicates that Howe has a prior conviction from 2012 for animal cruelty related to neglect of four horses, for which she received a community sentence and a fine.

As of December 2023, Howe’s appeal was dismissed, confirming her original sentence, and she was ordered to pay an extra £250 in costs.