Ten-year ban and suspended prison sentence for Wolverhampton dog owner after animals left to die

A woman from Wolverhampton has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after abandoning her dogs in a property after she moved out. 

Courtney Reanne Martin, aged 28, of Bryne Road, Wolverhampton, admitted to two animal welfare offences following an investigation by the animal welfare charity, the RSPCA. 

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It comes after an officer from the charity visited an address in Burleigh Road, Wolverhampton, after concerns were raised by a member of the public that dogs had been left unattended for a long period of time. 

On arrival, there was no reply to the RSPCA; however, the sound of a dog could be heard inside. The landlord of the property was later called out, and the officers were allowed access.

In the property, two dogs were found deceased - a male in the garden, and a female in the living room.

A third dog was also found alive on the property. 

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "The deceased dog discovered inside the home had a body condition score of just one out of nine and was emaciated.  She had bruising and puncture wounds on her head and neck, consistent with dog bites.

"A post-mortem confirmed trauma to the head and neck, and poor body condition due to prolonged lack of food. Death was attributed to severe neck injury, causing shock, likely less than four hours before death."

Officers discovered that there was no food or water in the dirty and cluttered premises, which was also covered in dog faeces.

The deceased male dog was also found to be emaciated, although his state of decomposition made it difficult for officers to determine his cause or time of death. 

The spokesperson added: "A vet, who examined the dogs, said in their report that the dogs did not have their needs met, specifically regarding a suitable diet, environment, natural needs, companionship, and protection from pain, suffering, injury, and disease.

"The vet said this resulted in unnecessary suffering for the two deceased dogs due to malnutrition. The female dog found dead inside also suffered unnecessarily from bite wounds to the head and neck, leading to pain, discomfort, and ultimately death through shock. 

"The vet concluded that the suffering from malnutrition was prolonged, while the suffering from the bite wounds lasted up to four hours before death."

In mitigation, Martin said that she was 'sorry' for failing ot make proper arrangements for the dogs, and at the time, she was experiencing personal challenges. 

Along with the ten-year animal disqualification order, she was given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge when she was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court on August 22. 

RSPCA inspector, Ben Jones, who investigated the incident, said: "These dogs were seemingly left behind without a second thought for their welfare. Instead of asking for help with the dogs after leaving the address, they were simply left to die. 

"Animals are reliant on their owners to provide them with the care they need to survive and thrive, which was clearly lacking here."