DONCASTER WOMAN PAULINE WILSON SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOGS IN DONCASTER

Pauline Wilson, born on July 3, 1976, and residing at 19 Woodcross Avenue, Cantley, Doncaster DN4 6RU, was found guilty of severe animal neglect involving her pet dogs. The case revealed that Wilson kept two dogs in extremely poor health within her home, specifically confined in dog crates in her kitchen, and neglected a third dog, leading to a court conviction in 2022.

Authorities uncovered the distressing conditions of her animals after a complaint from a concerned member of the public prompted an investigation. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Liz Braidley visited Wilson’s residence on September 2, 2021, but was denied access to the animals. During her visit, Wilson expressed frustration, stating she was 'sick of being reported.' When asked to see the dogs, Wilson refused, admitting that one of her dogs, Angel, was very underweight and that she believed she needed to be put to sleep. Wilson claimed she was considering euthanasia because Angel was pining for a dog she had lost about a year prior.

The following day, September 3, 2021, the RSPCA returned to the property and was able to examine the animals. Angel, a 12-year-old lurcher, was found to weigh only 14.3kg, with ribs, skull, and pelvic bones clearly visible, indicating severe malnutrition. She also had a weeping cut on her cheek and overgrown claws. Roxy, an eight-year-old Akita, weighed 17.3kg and showed similar signs of neglect, including overgrown claws and a chronic eye condition. The third dog, Dave, a Jack Russell terrier, was also underweight but not as severely as the others. When the RSPCA officer asked Wilson if she could take Dave for veterinary care, she refused, claiming she would take him herself and that he was always humping the Akita, which she said was why he was so thin.

Veterinary examinations confirmed that all three dogs were 'markedly underweight,' with Angel and Roxy meeting the criteria for emaciation. The vet’s report highlighted that their poor conditions were entirely avoidable had Wilson provided proper nutrition. After a month under the care of the RSPCA, all three dogs showed significant improvement in weight and overall health, demonstrating that their suffering was unnecessary and could have been prevented.

Inspector Kim Greaves, who attended the case, described Angel as having every bone visible but still able to walk, albeit weakly. Roxy, despite her thick coat, was also visibly thin, with ribs protruding. The vet’s report confirmed that Angel and Roxy’s conditions met the criteria for severe malnutrition, and all three animals' health improved markedly after being removed from Wilson’s care.

Prosecutor Phil Brown emphasized the discrepancy between Wilson’s claims that she intended to euthanize Angel due to her weight issues and the dogs’ subsequent weight gain after being rescued. Hannah Edison, representing Wilson, argued that her client had been going through a difficult period, including flooding at her home and family health issues, which contributed to her circumstances.

Wilson pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her three dogs, violating the Animal Welfare Act 2006, with the incident occurring on or before September 3, 2021. The court sentenced her to a 12-week prison term, suspended for two years, and ordered her to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, she was fined £556 in costs and charges and was disqualified from keeping any animals for life.

Following the case, Inspector Greaves stated that the dogs’ condition was horrific and that Wilson showed a blatant disregard for their welfare. She noted that Wilson could have sought help from the RSPCA but chose not to, which resulted in unnecessary suffering. Thanks to the intervention, the dogs were rehomed successfully; Angel and Roxy remained together, while Dave found a new home. The case also led to the seizure of three cats from Wilson’s property, which are now awaiting rehoming. The RSPCA emphasized the importance of public reporting in preventing animal cruelty and encouraged anyone witnessing similar neglect to contact authorities.