MONTAYAH BREWER FROM SHIPLEY CONVICTED FOR NEGLECTING DOG ON ESHTOLT LANE TRAVELLERS SITE

Montoyah Brewer, born on 24 February 2000 and residing at Esholt Lane Travellers Site in Baildon, Shipley, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by neglecting her urgent medical needs. The incident involved a young Staffordshire bull terrier named Princess, who was suffering from severe health issues that went untreated, ultimately leading to her being euthanized.

Brewer, a Traveller and daughter of the notorious convicted animal abuser Henry Brewer, admitted to the court that she was responsible for Princess’s welfare but failed to seek proper veterinary care in time. The dog was only eight months old and was found in a dire state, riddled with mange, unable to stand, with open sores covering her body, and both eyes filled with pus. Her condition was so severe that she was in the early stages of septicaemia, a life-threatening blood infection.

Despite her condition, Brewer claimed she had tried to help Princess and took on the responsibility because she did not want the dog to suffer. She tearfully explained to the court that her intentions were to alleviate the dog's pain, but her efforts fell short of what was needed. The court heard that Princess belonged to William Smith, a regular user of the Esholt Traveller Site, and Brewer had contacted a veterinarian on August 25, 2021, claiming that Princess was her own dog. She was advised to send photographs of the dog’s ailments so the vets could assess her condition.

However, Brewer did not send the photos until September 7, and only then did she bring Princess to the PDSA for treatment. By the time she arrived, Princess’s health had deteriorated significantly. The veterinary team treated her for 24 hours but concluded that her suffering was too great, and they made the decision to put her down to end her pain. Brewer stated she needed to contact her partner, Kalvin Bennett, before the euthanasia, but during the critical hours, she was unable to reach him. As a result, the vets proceeded with the euthanasia to prevent further suffering.

William Smith later contacted the RSPCA, expressing frustration that Princess had been euthanized without his knowledge. Attempts to contact him for an interview were unsuccessful. The prosecution, represented by Mr. Brown on behalf of the RSPCA, emphasized that Brewer had presented herself as the owner of Princess and had authorized medical procedures, despite the dog's condition indicating prolonged neglect. He pointed out that Princess was in severe pain, with early-stage septicaemia, and had been suffering from a serious skin condition for at least a week, if not longer. The failure to treat her earlier likely resulted in her death, the court was told.

Defense lawyer Upkar Bahir argued that Brewer was not the actual owner of Princess, asserting that the dog belonged to William Smith. He explained that Brewer had become friendly with Smith’s puppy while he was staying at the site and that she had noticed Princess’s unwellness last August. Bahir admitted that Brewer’s efforts to seek help were inadequate, stating she should have followed through with providing photographs and seeking further assistance. He acknowledged her remorse, stating that Brewer felt sorry for the dog and had tried her best, even if her actions were insufficient.

Brewer expressed remorse during the hearing, stating she had lost sleep over the incident and emphasizing her good intentions. She said, “I don’t want people to think I’m a horrible person. I was just trying to get the animal some help.”

Chairman of the Bench, Brian Outlaw, acknowledged the distressing condition of Princess, noting that the photos shown in court were upsetting. He described the dog as unable to stand, blind, and wasting away, and urged Brewer to learn from this experience. The court sentenced her to a 12-month community order, including 15 days of rehabilitation activities. She was also ordered to pay £100 in costs to the RSPCA and a £95 victim surcharge. Additionally, Brewer was banned from keeping dogs for 12 months, with the ban expiring in January 2024.