CONVICTED (2024) | Nicola Taafe, born c. 1986, of Roberts Avenue, Harehills, Leeds LS9 6LL – left dog with an untreated serious eye infection alone for days at a time while she ‘scored drugs’. Worthless junkie Taafe pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on May 13, 024. RSPCA officers made several visits to Taafe’s home after reports that a Staffy named Milo had been abandoned. The court heard that she had left the dog unattended for up to three days on three known occasions while she went to “score drugs”. Milo was first spotted by RSPCA Inspector Joanne Taylor in the front room of Taafe’s address on July 13, 2022. Failing to get an answer at the door, Inspector Taylor posted some wet dog food through an open window. RSPCA Inspector John Gibson called two months later and again on October 10, 2022, when he could hear a dog barking inside the property. Still, there was no answer at the door. On December 12, 2022, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ollie Wilkes placed taped seals on the front and back doors of the empty property. The officer returned the next day and the seals remained intact. On December 14 police attended the property in the course of an investigation and found Milo living in squalor. Floors were strewn with faeces and no food or water was left for the dog. RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby was contacted by the police and she managed to speak to Taafe on the phone. In a statement to the court, the inspector said: “The defendant told me she is a drug addict and that she left the dog to score drugs. “She said she was in a rehabilitation programme in Glasgow and wanted us to keep hold of the dog for her until she was able to take him back. I explained we do not offer a boarding facility and that since the dog was left unattended for three days we had begun an investigation.” An expert vet stated that the dog was suffering from conjunctivitis and entropion, a condition in which an eyelid turns in and sticks to the eyeball. Milo underwent corrective surgery on the eyelid to ease his discomfort, although he has suffered long-term scarring. In mitigation, the court was told that Taafe’s personal life was “chaotic”. She suffered poor mental health and she was addicted to Class A drugs. The defendant refused to sign Milo over to the RSPCA, but the court made a deprivation order against her. Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Hodby said: “We offered to rehome Milo as the defendant wasn’t at the address. She was given multiple opportunities to do this, but she wouldn’t let us and she left the dog for long periods of time when he was suffering from an eye condition.” Milo has made a full recovery in the care of the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and District Branch, who now hope to find a loving new home for him. The branch’s Animal Care Manager Megan Rattray said: “Milo is such a great boy. He is very lovable with some laughable quirks. “Even with his nervousness around new people, he shows so much love, affection and trust in those he knows. It is always nice to get a good morning kiss from him.” Sentencing | six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation; costs of £85 and victim surcharge of £154. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years. Companion Life Yorkshire Evening Post