TONI ROWLAND OF GATESHEAD SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOG LEFT TO STARVE IN FILTHY CAGE

Toni Leigh Rowland, born on August 22, 1997, and residing on Dundas Way in Felling, Gateshead NE10 9JR, was found guilty of severe animal neglect after leaving her dog to suffer in deplorable conditions. The incident came to light when Northumbria Police discovered her American bulldog, named Nala, confined in a filthy, urine-soaked cage within a bedroom at a property located in Leeming Gardens, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, on August 27, 2023.

Upon inspection, officers and veterinary professionals found Nala in a critically weak state. The puppy was so frail that she could not stand for more than half a minute without collapsing. A veterinary assessment assigned her a body condition score of just one out of nine, indicating extreme emaciation. Veterinarians estimated that Nala had been suffering from malnutrition for weeks, if not months, prior to her rescue. The scene was distressing, with the dog visibly suffering from starvation and neglect.

The RSPCA was promptly contacted, initiating a thorough investigation into the case. Inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws, who examined Nala at the veterinary practice, provided detailed testimony to the court. She described the dog as being