Former Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Is Jailed for Neglect of 99 Dogs
Breeder Jailed For Neglecting 99 St Bernards
A St Bernard breeder who pleaded guilty to neglecting 99 dogs was today sent to prison for 18 weeks.
Mary Ellen Collis, 51, of Denby Lane, Wakefield was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years by Wellingborough Magistrates. The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering to 85 St Bernard dogs and failing to meet the welfare needs of another 14.
The RSPCA was alerted to the condition of the dogs by concerned members of the public. Inspectors attended Wardana kennels on Stanion Road in Brigstock along with police and a veterinary surgeon at the end of November 2008.
The dogs, aged between nine weeks to eight years of age, were being kept in kennels which were covered in urine and faeces. There was no food or water available for them. Their coats were filthy and matted with faeces. Nine puppies were kept in a separate pen with no food or water. The pen was cold and the heat lamps provided were not working due to a lack of electricity. Thirteen dogs were found in the kitchen of the house connected with the kennels.
Eighty-five of the St Bernards were suffering from medical problems such as abscesses, ulcerated skin and eye conditions and ear infections which had not been treated. Many were emaciated. Three of the puppies were very thin and their ribs were visible.
One dog was unable to stand and was suffering from dehydration. She had several open sores on her legs and feet caused by pressure and urine scalds. Another was in such a poor condition that the vet had to put the dog to sleep at the scene to prevent him from suffering further.
Another dog died overnight after suffering a heart attack at the veterinary surgery. He was thin, covered in faeces and was suffering from severe dehydration. Another had severely ulcerated eyes, which had not been treated and caused blindness.
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Vets concluded that most of the dogs had suffered from neglect for several weeks or months.
In sentencing, the chair of magistrates, Dr Pugsley, said: “As a trained veterinary nurse you should have known what was required.”
In mitigation, Collis said that she had been breeding the dogs for about 30 years and had not encountered any significant problems before. Her solicitor said that she had been hiding from the circumstances surrounding her bankruptcy and that she had not intentionally neglected the dogs.
RSPCA inspector Clint Davies said: “Whilst there was no deliberate cruelty here, these dogs had been left in such a poor state that others may have died had we not been alerted. Many were in pain and suffering just because they had not received veterinary treatment and food.
“I am confident that the sentence will protect future animals from a similar fate.
“Thanks to the hard work of vets, our inspectors, officers and animal centres, new homes have now been found for all of the dogs. This could not have been done without the support of the public across the country who have once again helped us to provide a lifeline for animals in desperate need.”
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