Couple banned from keeping animals after two dogs neglected at Oldbury home had to be put down

Owners Ian Alexander Yarnold, aged 72, and Doreen Yarnold, aged 66, of Badsey Road, Oldbury, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences over the treatment of their dogs Sandy and Isabel, which were suffering from severe untreated skin and eye disease. 

The offences related to the period between November 12, 2024 and February 5, 2025.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Baljit Dhamia described how he attended a joint visit with Sandwell Council's environmental health team after concerns were raised about the couple’s pets, which also had rotten teeth.

Mr Dhamia said: “There was a strong smell of ammonia and there was a heavy fly infestation. I saw a hairless dog curled up on an armchair who I now know as Sandy.

"He was constantly itching and scratching, the only hair on his body was between his eyes, his skin was thick and cracked with sores all over, his eyes were also gunked up with a grey discharge. He was lethargic and not very responsive.

“On another chair was another dog named Isabel. Her eyes were closed and looked glued shut with a thick green discharge. Her lower back was hairless with thick scaly skin similar to Sandy. The skin had large open sores which were weeping and bleeding.”

A vet's report stated: “Both dogs had marked skin disease that was evident from a distance, particularly Sandy who had very little to no normal skin remaining. The changes that were present were chronic such as skin thickening and pigmentation.

“Both dogs were extremely itchy and constantly itched themselves during the consultation. A reasonable owner would have presented both dogs for examination to help with their skin condition and their obvious discomfort well before they developed such chronic changes.

“Both Sandy and Isabel had ocular disease, both had changes consistent with dry eye but of particular concern was the chronicity of Isabel’s ocular disease to the point that she had no tear production, marked pigmentation and was no longer visual."

Both dogs were put down.

In addition to the 10-year animal ban both defendants were sentenced to an 18-month community order, with 18 rehabilitation activity requirement days, at Birmingham Magistrates Court on March 19. Both must also pay £100 costs and £114 victims' surcharge.

In mitigation, Doreen Yarnold said they had tried their best. The couple's 10 cats, six kittens, two turtles, one parrot and one fish must now be signed over to the RSPCA for rehoming.

RSPCA inspector Vicki Taylor said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need when they need it. Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy."