NICHOLAS KENGERE ABANDONS DOG IN BROMLEY, LEAVES IT TO SUFFER FOR WEEKS

Nicholas Kengere, born around 2004 and residing on Capstone Road in Bromley, was found guilty of neglecting his pet dog, a black Labrador crossbreed named Blade, by leaving it tethered and without proper care for over a week.

The distressing situation came to light after neighbors on Capstone Road reported concerns about the welfare of the dog, which had been left abandoned in the property. These reports prompted the RSPCA to respond to the scene on January 24, 2023.

When RSPCA officers arrived at Kengere’s residence, they were allowed inside by one of his friends. Inside, they discovered a severely undernourished dog standing in its own feces. The dog was tethered to a coat hook in the hallway, with no bedding, no clean resting area, and no access to proper toileting facilities.

The condition of Blade was alarming. A veterinarian who examined the dog rated its body condition as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 9, indicating that the dog was approximately 50 percent underweight and lacked palpable body fat. The vet also identified red lumps in Blade’s eyes, a condition known as cherry eye, which required surgical treatment.

The veterinarian’s assessment suggested that Blade had been suffering from malnutrition for at least two to three weeks, possibly longer, as indicated by the severity of his emaciation. The dog’s physical state reflected prolonged neglect and inadequate care.

To monitor the situation, RSPCA officers placed seals on Kengere’s door to observe when he would return home. These seals remained unbroken until January 26.

Subsequently, officers made contact with Kengere on February 8, leading to an interview. During this conversation, he admitted that he had been in hospital for a week prior to the RSPCA’s intervention. Kengere explained that he tethered Blade to prevent him from rummaging through the kitchen bins. He also acknowledged that the dog was likely suffering and took responsibility for the neglect.

Kengere’s hospital stay was unplanned, as he was suffering from a chronic B12 deficiency. Despite his health issues, he recognized that he should have taken better care of Blade.

As a result of the case, Kengere was sentenced to a 12-week prison term, which was suspended for a year and a half. Additionally, he was banned from keeping any pets for ten years, although he has the right to appeal this ban starting from 2030. The ban will remain in effect until August 2033.

This case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglecting pets, especially in situations where owners are unable to provide proper care due to health or other issues.