CONVICTED (2019) | remorseless Vicki Ann Ball, born 28 July 1981, of Mark Avenue, Horncastle LN9 5BD – allowed her cockerpoo dog to become so poorly he had to be euthanised. Callous Vicki Ann Ball from Horncastle and her cockerpoo Ned. The little dog had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds due to Ball’s appalling neglect of him Vicki Ball pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to her black cockerpoo, named Ned, who was found by an examining vet to be in a collapsed state, with his coat matted with faeces and urine. His skin was covered in open wounds, which were infested with maggots. The court heard that Ball took Ned to a dog rescue in June 2018 claiming that she had found him on her lawn. The rescue took Ned to a vet who took the decision to put him to sleep immediately to end his suffering. Remorseless: Vicki Ball showed complete disregard for her dog’s welfare During interview with the RSPCA, Ball said she had owned Ned in the past, but had given him away on Facebook ‘free to a good home’ in early 2018. She was unable to provide any evidence of this, however. An RSPCA inspector visited Ball’s address and noticed a run at the side of the house that was being dismantled and had dog faeces in it. A witness gave evidence that they had seen her with Ned recently and the dog was microchipped to her. Abused cockerpoo Ned had multiple skin lesions, which were infested with maggots RSPCA Inspector Kate Burris said: “This was one of the most distressing cases I have dealt with because of the utter lack of any emotion or empathy displayed by the owner towards this dog.” In mitigation, the court heard that Ball had pleaded guilty and had no previous convictions. It was said that she found Ned difficult to look after due to family commitments and his behaviour. Sentencing | 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work. Fine and charges totalling £584. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expired March 2024). Daily Mail