HORSE ABANDONED IN HOUGHTON REGIS: MELISSA HETHERINGTON FACES JUSTICE FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY

Melissa Louise Hetherington, born on July 25, 1974, and residing at Cumbria Close in Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5RY, was found guilty of serious neglect and cruelty towards her horses. The court proceedings revealed that Hetherington failed in her basic responsibilities as a horse owner, neglecting to provide necessary veterinary care for her animals and allowing them to suffer unnecessarily.

Specifically, she was convicted of two separate offences related to her treatment of a horse named Leo. The authorities detailed how Hetherington neglected to address Leo’s foot abscess and did not take appropriate action to treat his laminitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition. The neglect was so severe that Leo was found to be in a state of significant pain, with his hooves overgrown, misshapen, and cracked, indicating prolonged suffering.

In addition to her treatment of Leo, Hetherington was also found guilty of a third offence concerning a second horse named Bob. The court heard that she failed to meet the basic welfare needs of Bob, particularly by not providing a suitable diet, which put the animal at risk of developing laminitis. This neglect demonstrated a clear disregard for the health and well-being of her animals.

RSPCA inspector Jaime Godfrey described the condition of Leo, stating, “Leo was severely lame and was struggling to bear weight on his left front leg. His hooves were very long, misshapen, and cracked. His hoof was later x-rayed, revealing a foot abscess in the left forelimb, which was the cause of his acute lameness. All four feet showed signs of chronic laminitis. Had the owner sought veterinary care earlier, his suffering could have been easily prevented. We are grateful to World Horse Welfare for taking in Leo and Bob.”

Following reports from a concerned member of the public, a team from the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare visited the property. An officer attempted to contact Hetherington to advise her that her horses needed urgent veterinary attention. Despite initial contact, the horses were seized by police and taken into the care of the RSPCA. The following day, veterinary professionals were called in to assess the animals’ conditions.

Prosecutor Mark Jones explained that the investigation involved multiple agencies, including the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, and veterinary experts. The horses were subsequently removed from Hetherington’s care and signed over to the charity, which now aims to find them suitable new homes. World Horse Welfare field officer Rebecca Bedson expressed her concern, saying, “Leo was clearly in great pain, given the substantial size of the abscess. It was a relief to see his immediate comfort once the pressure was released. He has made a good recovery at our Norfolk centre, and both Leo and Bobby will soon be ready for adoption.”

In sentencing, Hetherington was fined £1,000, ordered to pay an additional £1,000 towards prosecution costs, and a victim surcharge of £100. She was also banned from keeping any animals indefinitely, reflecting the severity of her neglect and cruelty towards her horses in Houghton Regis.