Woman who kept animals in shocking conditions in Gillingham banned from pets for life
One dog was so emaciated he couldn’t lift his head or stand
**This article contains details some people might find distressing**
A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence and been banned from keeping any animals for life after leaving her dogs unattended and starving in her Gillingham home.
RSPCA and police officers forced entry into a home in James Street, following reports of animals being left unattended.
There they found starving dogs living in unsuitable conditions and a collapsed dog who was found locked in a room; he later had to be put to sleep.
23 year old Chloe Cooper, now of Sunninghill Close, Hove, East Sussex, appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court where she was sentenced to eight months in prison - suspended for two years - ordered to pay £450 in costs and disqualified from keeping animals for life.
RSPCA officers launched an investigation in March 2025 after vets raised concerns when Ms Cooper brought her emaciated presa canario Storm into a vet practice having collapsed. The dog had to be put to sleep.
An investigation was launched into how Storm had come to be so emaciated but, while enquiries were ongoing, the RSPCA received additional reports relating to Ms Cooper’s other dogs being left unattended at her home in Gillingham.
When police and RSPCA officers entered the property on 15 April (2025) the conditions inside were described as ‘incredibly poor’ and nine dogs were removed.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Portia Mearns was one of the officers who attended on the day to rescue the dogs.
Her witness statement said: “As soon as the door opened and we entered, there was an immediate smell of rotting food, as well as urine and faeces. The property was also extremely dirty, with what looked like mud and faeces smeared into the furniture, walls and flooring.”
They found four puppies in a crate which was covered in faeces.
The pups had no water and unsuitable food; biscuits for adult dogs which they couldn’t eat. They had a body condition score of 1/9 (with 4 being a healthy normal weight, showing they were incredibly underweight).
ARO Mearns’ statement added: “We could hear a number of dogs barking at the back of the property. Police then found more dogs locked in the kitchen.
“When looking up stairs we could see a dog lead tied from the landing banister to what we now know to be the bathroom door. This was very tight. We unhooked the lead and began opening the door slowly as we were told there was potentially a rottweiler behind the door. We were hit by a strong smell of urine and faeces again.
“We then created a gap big enough for my phone and hand to fit through so I could take a photo of the room before we opened the door… on the other side of the door I saw an emaciated rottweiler collapsed.
“He had a body condition score of 0/9. I then began to physically shake due to the shock of seeing such an emaciated dog. He could barely even lift his head and tried to stand but couldn’t. There was a thick white discharge coming from his left eye and he was extremely lethargic. We carried him immediately to my van as he needed immediate veterinary treatment.
“Police then notified me that there was a basement in the property. We entered this basement and there was an intense smell of rotting food, urine and faeces, so strong I had to cover my nose with my jumper. The whole basement floor was lined with faeces.”
Vets immediately assessed all of the dogs and tried to warm up the collapsed rottweiler - called Blaze - who was very cold. He weighed just 17.35kg (a healthy adult male rottweiler should weight between 43kg-61kg).
Sadly, vets decided that the only option to end his suffering was to put him to sleep.
The other dogs - a German shepherd called Shadow, a presa canario called Coda, a crossbreed called Missy, a cocker spaniel called Raven, and the four puppies - were moved into RSPCA kennels.
Sadly, due to serious behavioural challenges with Shadow and Coda they were later put to sleep as they were not considered to be safe for rehoming.
Missy, Raven and the puppies were moved to Leybourne Animal Centre in Kent, where they were all adopted and are now enjoying their lives with new families.
RSPCA Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad took over investigating the case. Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “This was a truly horrifying case which has had an impact on many of the officers who were involved on the day and had to work on a harrowing scene, and all of those since who have investigated and been involved in helping to rehabilitate these poor dogs.
“It breaks my heart that we weren’t able to save some of these dogs but I’m so pleased we could get these dogs out and that, now, many of them are living life to the fullest in wonderful new homes.”
In mitigation, the court heard that Ms Cooper had been struggling at the time due to an abusive relationship.