STACEY SANDHAM FROM BOLTON SENTENCED FOR NEGLECTING SIX HUSKIES IN HORRIFIC CONDITIONS

On January 6, 2024, authorities responded to disturbing reports concerning the welfare of six huskies kept by Stacey Louise Sandham, a resident of Partridge Close, Farnworth, Bolton BL4. The RSPCA Animal Protection Officer (APO) Jessica Pierce was dispatched to Sandham’s home after receiving multiple complaints from concerned members of the public. Prior to her visit, APO Pierce was provided with video footage of the dogs, which had been shared with the charity. An RSPCA veterinarian reviewed the footage and expressed serious concerns about the dogs’ health and living conditions.

Upon arrival, APO Pierce was granted access to Sandham’s residence. She described her initial observations, noting the presence of a dog crate in the kitchen with a young, fluffy dog inside. The crate contained only plain spaghetti at the bottom, with no water or soft bedding to provide comfort or hydration for the animal. Inside the same room, an adult husky was found roaming freely. The dog appeared visibly underweight, with the outline of its ribs, hips, and spine clearly visible through its coat, indicating severe malnutrition.

APO Pierce further reported that the kitchen floor was covered in mud and dirt, with muddy paw prints smeared across the walls and doors. A plastic bowl filled with watery spaghetti was placed atop the dog crate, and nearby, a large bag of dry dog biscuits was found, with only a small amount remaining. When asked about the number of dogs she owned, Sandham claimed to have six, but stated that not all of them belonged to her. In a corner of the kitchen, several bin bags were stacked, emitting a strong smell of rotting rubbish, further highlighting the unsanitary conditions.

During the inspection, APO Pierce observed that other dogs in the household were also very underweight. She could distinctly feel every spine nodule, as well as the protruding hips and ribs, confirming their poor nutritional state. One of the dogs, named Loki, had a wound on one of his limbs, which had not been treated by a veterinarian. It was clear that Sandham had failed to provide adequate nutrition or a suitable living environment for her dogs. Additionally, she did not take any action to improve their condition or seek veterinary care for Loki’s injury.

Following the investigation, Greater Manchester Police seized all six dogs—Torvi, Ivor, Floki, Loki, Freya, and Astrid—and transferred them into the care of the RSPCA. The dogs were subsequently rehabilitated and rehomed after receiving necessary medical treatment and nutritional support.

In court, Sandham pleaded guilty to four counts of neglecting her dogs’ basic needs. Her sentence was relatively lenient, consisting of an 18-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation, an £80 fine, and a £32 victim surcharge. Furthermore, she was banned from owning any animals for a period of five years, a ban that will expire in January 2030.