Stockport woman jailed after repeatedly letting dog run away
Luna suffered serious life-changing injuries due to the incidents
A woman from Greater Manchester has been sentenced to 26 weeks in prison after she repeatedly let her dog run away and become seriously injured on at least four occasions.
Cockapoo Luna lost an eye and suffered a dislocated elbow and bone fractures after she went missing and was reported to have been involved in several accidents.
Her owner, Shannon Edward, who's 28 and from Bakery Court in Stockport, also received a three-year ban on keeping dogs following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
She had previously admitted four offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Stockport Magistrates Court heard the animal welfare charity was contacted by a vet in Manchester on 18th October last year after Luna had been taken into the practice the previous day.
In her written statement to the court the Inspector said: “I was shown a three-year-old black Cockapoo named Luna. She was curled up into a ball shape at the back of her kennel panting and shaking, and the staff told me that she was absolutely terrified.
“She had reportedly been missing for a few days and when she was found she wasn’t weight bearing on her front right leg. The staff raised concerns with the RSPCA due to the amount of times the owner had reported Luna missing and subsequently returned with injuries.”
Luna was transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she was assessed by a vet who confirmed she was likely to suffer if her circumstances didn’t change.
She was seized by the police as evidence and then passed back into the charity’s care for ongoing treatment and observation.
Luna remained at the hospital on cage rest with careful exercise for another week. No signs of further dislocation to her elbow were seen and she was discharged into the care of the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk & District Branch six days later.
Veterinary records obtained by the RSPCA showed Luna had gone missing six times between June 2022 and October 2024, resulting in her sustaining injuries from suspected road traffic accidents on at least four occasions.
She was admitted to a veterinary hospital the first time with suspected spinal injuries and was discharged home to be strictly rested after x-rays showed no significant fractures. Six months later she was taken to another vet with injuries to her right front leg from another suspected accident after Edwards reported her missing.
The court was told that eight months later Luna suffered a prolapsed eye, which had to be removed, after Edwards said she disappeared “for several weeks.” She then failed to take her back to the vet to get the stent removed.
Further accidents followed - including one in Nottinghamshire - resulting in Luna sustaining a dislocated right elbow and a fractured tail.
A second vet who gave written evidence in the case, said: “The details of how Luna was able to run off are not given but may have been due to the dog repeatedly escaping from the home, garden, yard or a kennel enclosure, or possibly when out on walks, either when let off the lead to exercise, or by being walked without a lead.
“In any event Luna’s owner was aware that the dog had a propensity to do this and the dog was able to do so repeatedly.
"In my opinion the needs of Luna have not been met to the extent required by good practice due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal failing to take reasonable steps to prevent this dog from running off, thereby failing to protect her from repetitive injury, pain and suffering.”
In her interview with Inspector Whalley, Edwards, who was sentenced on 5th December, admitted she did not put Luna on a lead when she walked her and she should have been more careful.
In mitigation the court was told she had neglected the dog but not been deliberately cruel to her and was remorseful about what had happened.
Luna went on to make a full recovery in the care of a fosterer from the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk & District Branch. She has now been adopted by her and is enjoying life with another four-legged companion.