A woman has been banned from keeping animals for life after 21 dogs and a cat were found living in stacked crates inside a filthy caravan and van in Cumbria. Penelope Garner-Carpenter, 67, received a 22-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Barrow-in-Furness Magistrates Court on September 25 after being found guilty of three animal welfare offences.
The RSPCA, accompanied by police officers, attended Garner-Carpenter's caravan and van at a car park on Walney Road, Barrow-in-Furness, on 14 July last year following concerns about the conditions in which the dogs were being kept. A total of 16 female dogs, five males, and a black and white cat were subsequently taken to a local police station.
Veterinary examinations reveal emaciation and anaemia
Veterinary examinations revealed that 10 of the dogs were emaciated, leaving them anaemic. The animals were reported to be covered in faeces and urine and had developed pressure sores across their bodies. Inside Garner-Carpenter's van, RSPCA inspectors encountered a strong unpleasant smell after the dogs had apparently been living in the cargo area.
Inspectors also uncovered an unopened pack of raw chicken thighs, which Garner-Carpenter had reportedly been using to feed the animals. Upon inspecting the caravan itself, RSPCA Inspector Carl Larsson stated he could not believe anyone had been living in such conditions.
In a statement to Barrow-in-Furness Magistrates Court, he said: "I was shown the cargo area of the van, which although the dogs had been removed from, still had a strong unpleasant smell of urine and faeces."
"In the front cab of the van, which was very cluttered, I saw an unopened pack of raw chicken thighs which I was informed the owner had stated she was feeding them. The van was a panel van with no windows in the back. Once the doors were closed there would be very limited natural light entering the cargo area."
"Ventilation would also be an issue, particularly with the crates stacked three high as they had been. The weather in Cumbria had been extremely hot in the previous few weeks in the mid to high 20s."
Dogs found malnourished and suffering
Following examination at the police station, a number of the dogs were transferred to a veterinary practice for further assessment. It was found that 10 of the dogs were deemed to be emaciated and covered in urine and faeces more than 24 hours old. The vet concluded that all of the dogs were considered to be extremely anaemic as a result. She believed this would have taken several months of malnutrition to develop.
Several of the dogs were also discovered to be suffering from diarrhoea, matted coats and pressure sores, while one female Collie was so severely dehydrated that she required overnight treatment with a drip.
The vet said: "The cat was terrified and had been kept in the caravan with some of the dogs. The caravan was very crowded and dirty, and the cat would have found it hard to hide from the dogs which would have been extremely stressful. This alone would cause suffering to the cat."
"The remaining dogs were stacked in crates three high in the van. The dogs were unable to move around; it would have been permanently dark when the doors were shut. The environment would cause suffering as well as the lack of appropriate resources. I can say due to the poor body condition of the whole group that they had not had sufficient access to food."
"The suffering would have easily been preventable by the application of regular flea control and the provision of an appropriate diet, I would consider both to be basic provisions."
Owner claimed to be suffering from old age and poor health
The court heard that Garner-Carpenter claimed the dogs had spent most of their lives with her, and while she acknowledged that the van was not a suitable environment for them, she described it as a short-term solution following her recent eviction from her home. She told investigators that she fed the animals raw chicken and treated them for fleas when necessary. She also explained that she would rotate the amount of time they spent outside, as she had a limited number of leads.
Garner-Carpenter, now residing in Hatfield Woodhouse, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, denied any wrongdoing, stating that she was suffering from old age and poor health, according to the RSPCA. Since the dogs were seized, 20 have subsequently been rehomed, while one had to be put to sleep due to ill-health, the charity confirmed. The cat, Julius, has also since been adopted.
Speaking following sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping, who headed the investigation, described the conditions in which the animals were kept as unacceptable. He said: "There would have been barely room to move, distress from excessive noise and the animals would have been forced to toilet in the small space they had been provided with. Crates should only be used for short periods of time, with suitable training, and should never be used as a permanent environment for a dog."
