Hertford woman banned from keeping animals for life
The 24 year old received suspended prison sentence for animal neglect
A Hertford woman has been banned from keeping animals for life after the bodies of three cats were discovered at her home.
Chelsea Parker, 24, of Tudor Way, faced sentencing at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on 14th April.
She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two cats and a kitten by failing to provide adequate drinking water and neglecting their welfare needs.
Alongside the lifetime ban, Parker was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days.
She was also required to pay a victim surcharge of £174.
The court heard details from the RSPCA, who found the cats in a property on Bentley Road, Hertford during a routine safety gas check.
The house was described as overly messy, including a hallway filled with unopened letters.
The living room was unsanitary, filled with cat faeces and smelling strongly of ammonia, with no food or water available for the cats.
Three cats' remains were found decomposed, with one missing its eyes and another reduced to a skull and leathery tissue.
It appeared the adult cats may have preyed on the young kitten.
A police officer seized the bodies.
RSPCA Inspector Jon Knight commented post-sentencing: “The suffering these animals would have endured was entirely unnecessary and the result of a long-standing failure to provide even the most basic standard of care.
"Owning an animal is a significant responsibility, and owners have a legal duty to meet their needs.”
The court heard Parker struggled with mental health and personal challenges, which were taken into consideration.