Hartlepool couple avoid jail after starving dog to death
A couple from Hartlepool - who starved their dog to death - have avoided prison, but been banned from owning animals for life
Please note the images later in this article may be distressing.
A couple from Hartlepool - who starved their dog to death - have avoided prison, but been banned from owning animals for life.
Rhys Hagan - who's 26, and Michelle Hindson, who's 27 were prosecuted by the RSPCA for the death of Bull breed Oreo.
The pair pleaded guilty to 2 offences, and were given suspended 38 week prison sentences.
The couple were sentenced at Peterlee Magistrates Court on Wednesday 27 August after they had both pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act at an earlier hearing.
Magistrates were told the animal welfare charity started an investigation after Hagan and Hindson had wrapped Oreo in blankets and taken him to a local PDSA clinic on 7 January this year. They had asked staff to cremate him, saying the dog had died at home. But the vets at the practice were so concerned by his body condition they contacted the RSPCA.
An Inspector from the animal welfare charity subsequently visited Hagan and Hindson at their home in Briar Walk where they both admitted they had owned Orio for two years. They said the dog was fine in the morning and they thought he just needed worming before discovering him dead in his cage later that day.
The PDSA vet who examined Oro and gave written evidence to the court, said: “Oreo was emaciated with a body condition score of 1/9. He also had severe generalised muscle atrophy and his eyes were extremely sunken.
“There were multiple wounds all over his body. Many of these wounds were located over pressure points, and therefore I suspect were pressure sores. The white fur on his feet, groin and sternum was stained yellow in colour - I suspect due to urine staining.
“My findings when examining Oreo’s body indicate that he was suffering in the period leading up to his death. The severe weight and muscle loss suggests a chronicity to this suffering of which, to the best of my knowledge, the owner did not seek veterinary treatment for.
“Furthermore the wounds to Oreo’s body and presence of staining of his fur suggest he was not kept in a suitable environment and was not protected from pain, suffering or injury.”
A post mortem report found there were no underlying factors which could have contributed to Oreo’s emaciated state and the cause of death was starvation.
A second vet who examined his body and reviewed the report’s findings also gave written evidence in the case. She said Oreo weighed 9.9kgs (21.82 pounds), whereas a dog of his breed and size would be expected to weigh more than 20kgs (44.09 pounds). He had 13 skin lesions - nine pressure sores and four lacerations - and plastic material was found in his empty stomach.
She said it was her opinion Oreo had been caused unnecessary suffering due to the defendants’ failure to investigate his poor body condition and this had been ongoing for at least six weeks.
Sentencing the couple, magistrates said it was quite clear Oreo had been allowed to starve to death over a very long period of time and described it as “one of the most serious cases of animal cruelty they had ever seen in all the years we have been on the bench”.
Noting Hagan and Hindson’s lack of previous convictions and their guilty pleas, they said they believed there were reasonable prospects of rehabilitation, which is why they were suspending the 38-week prison sentence for 12 months.
In mitigation, the couple, who were both said to have mental health issues, were ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187 and costs of £350 each. Hagan was also fined £200 and Hindson was ordered to curry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Speaking after the case RSPCA Chief Inspector for Durham, Mark Gent, said: “The pictures of Oreo are extremely upsetting and show the extent of the lengthy starvation he very sadly suffered. This was recognised by the suspended prison sentence and the lifetime bans handed to both defendants.”