CONVICTED (2022) | backyard dog and cat breeder Steph Neesam, born 5 September 1988, of Horsham Grove, North Shields NE29 7RX – left a bullmastiff to suffer for months with poor health. Neesam pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her dog called Viper. The bullmastiff had been left without veterinary care for a tumour on her left elbow, a skin condition, and weight loss. When RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws visited Neesam as part of her investigation she found Viper had thickened patches of skin on her back, tail and paw which was hot to touch and caused her irritation as she was scratching at them. Viper also had a flea infestation which Neesam said she had attempted to treat by using alternative products bought on the internet. Greeder Neesam breeds bullmastiffs as well as Persian cats. During the course of an interview, Neesam claimed the way that she was treating Viper was the way the dog would have been treated by a vet. She admitted that she had not sought any veterinary advice or treatment. Inspector Keough-Laws took Viper to a vet to be examined who concluded Viper’s tumour would have been present for at least a month and the chronicity of her skin lesion indicated she had been suffering for a number of months. Viper underwent an operation to remove the tumour on her leg and has been recovering at the RSPCA’s Felledge Animal centre. She will soon be looking for her forever home. Sentencing | 12-month community order to include 180 hours unpaid work; £395 costs and charges. Five-year ban on keeping dogs (expires April 2027). Chronicle Live Update | June 2024 Neesam, who was inexplicably only banned from keeping dogs in April 2022, was back before the courts after neglecting 11 Persian cats. She advertised pedigree cats on Facebook under the name ‘Purrcise Persian’s’, [sic] , but those kept at her home on Horsham Grove, North Shields, were living in a dirty environment and suffering a litany of health problems. The three male and eight female Persians, aged between 18 months to five years old, were found by police officers on July 27, 2023, showing moderate to severe signs of cat flu. They all had signs of fleas, coats matted with faeces, urine-stained paws, painful eyes, dirty ears, poor teeth and impaired breathing. RSPCA Inspector Helen Bestwick went to the house at the request of police and found the cats living in a dirty room at the rear of the property. In a written statement, Ms Bestwick said: “The room smelt strongly of ammonia and was unfurnished apart from an armchair covered with dirty blankets. “There were two litter trays dirty with faeces and a further automatic litter tray which Miss Neesam stated the cats didn’t use. “There was one dish for water which was nearly empty and I noticed the cats kept coming over to the bowl. There was also an empty plastic tower feeder. The tiled floor was dirty and there was some faeces on it.” The inspector advised Neesam that she suspected the cats were suffering or were likely to suffer if their circumstances didn’t change, and they would need to be examined by a vet. They were seized by police and taken for treatment. The vet who examined the cats confirmed they were suffering. In written evidence to the court, the vet described the cats as thin and all but one of the animals were given a body score condition of 3/9. The cats were then de-matted and bathed by veterinary staff and given topical antibiotics for their eye infections as well as flea and worming medication. A four-year-old male called Claws was suffering from a debilitating permanent eye condition affecting his vision. In further written evidence, the vet said: “All 11 cats were presented to me in very poor condition. They were all underweight, poorly muscled, extremely dirty and matted. “In fact cats are usually meticulous about their hygiene. Their dirty environment made this impossible to achieve. “In addition to causing hygiene issues detrimental to their health, it is a source of distress to cats not being able to remain clean. They were not protected from disease and suffering and were all poorly, showing moderate to severe symptoms of cat flu which is a disease that can be vaccinated against. “The overcrowding and poor hygiene with lack of isolation facilities allowed this condition to spread contagiously affecting all of the cats to some extent. The intact males should not have been housed with the intact females. “This allows repeated matings, competition and aggression, inbreeding and additional cats to care for. Of the five needs necessary for animals to live a comfortable life, not one of them was being met properly.” The vet concluded that the cats’ suffering was avoidable had a vaccination programme, veterinary healthcare, hygiene measures and suitable housing been provided. She said that all the cats had suffered for at least two months, but quite probably longer for some of them. Neesam, who didn’t provide any pedigree paperwork for the cats, told the RSPCA that she used to breed Persians but had stopped the previous year. This assertion was contradicted by a Facebook post from May 2023 showing pictures of an 18-month old ginger cat called Harvey, who she described as her “new stud for next year”. The same cat was found in her house two months later with laboured breathing, a matted coat, faeces and urine stained feet, and infected eyes. Neesam didn’t agree that the cats were underweight as they were “fed freely,” However she admitted she was struggling with numbers and had only wanted to keep four or five, but hadn’t contacted any animal welfare charities for help. Seven of the 11 cats were signed over to the RSPCA during the course of their investigation. They all recovered well at the charity’s Felledge Animal Centre near Chester-le-Street, where they were cared for and then rehomed. Neesam pleaded guilty to one charge contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Speaking after the conclusion of the case, Inspector Bestwick said: “The owner openly admitted she was aware of the cats’ problems but despite this she failed to provide a suitable environment, get them routinely vaccinated or seek appropriate veterinary treatment for their numerous health issues as any responsible owner would do. “It took many months of care and rehabilitation by our staff at Felledge to get these cats right again, but thankfully the seven that were signed over to us have found lovely new homes and have a much happier future ahead of them.” Sentencing | 18 month community order. Five-year banning order in relation to cats (expires June 2029). ChronicleLive