ORLA GIL-HENRY FROM BRISTOL SENTENCED FOR DOG NEGLECT
Orla Gil-Henry, born on April 17, 1980, and residing on Shetland Road, Bristol BS10 5JW, was convicted in 2019 of mistreating her pet dog by starving and depriving her of water.She has been banned from keeping dogs for five years.
The mother of two claimed she fed her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Niah, three times daily.
However, police found no dog food in her home and observed that the dog appeared to have been deprived of water.
Prosecutor May Li explained that police became aware of the neglect on July 29, 2019, when officers attended Shetland Road during the course of an unrelated matter.
She stated, “Cruel Orla Gil-Henry left Staffy Niah alone in the garden for extended periods and failed to feed her properly or supply water.” A neighbour had contacted the police, reporting that Miss Gil-Henry owned a Staffy in poor health, often left outside for long periods.
The police were shown a photo of the dog, which clearly depicted her as emaciated.
Following this, officers knocked on Gil-Henry’s door, explaining they needed to see the dog.
Upon opening the back door, Miss Gil-Henry’s dog, Niah, ran directly to a baby bath on the floor, drinking furiously as if she had been water-deprived.
Police observed that the dog was extremely skinny, with vertebrae, hips, and ribs protruding.
When asked whether she fed the dog, Miss Gil-Henry replied that she fed her three times a day.
However, officers found no evidence of dog food in the house and raised concerns that, if she was feeding her three times daily, a veterinarian should have been consulted given the dog’s poor condition.
The dog was seized and taken to a vet, who stated that a typical dog of her breed should weigh at least 22kg.
Niah weighed only 15kg, clearly suffering from malnourishment and emaciation.
The vet added that if left untreated, she would have continued to suffer.
In sentencing, Gil-Henry received a 12-month community order and was ordered to pay a total of £335.
She was also banned from keeping dogs for five years, with the ban set to expire in December 2024.
