An emaciated American Bulldog that was locked in a freezing, feces-covered cellar for at least three weeks after her owner moved out has led to a suspended jail sentence and a lifetime animal ban for the man responsible.
Ryan Miller, 44, of Howard Way, Meltham, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences at Kirklees Magistrates' Court after a prosecution brought by the RSPCA. The dog, named Mabel, was discovered on January 25, 2026, in the cellar of a property on Greenfield Road in Holmfirth, when the landlord visited seven to ten days after Miller had moved out.
Discovery and Rescue
The landlord, who was unaware Mabel was in the property, rushed her to a vet after making the discovery, and the RSPCA began an investigation. RSPCA Inspector Vanessa Reid traced the owner via microchip, which showed Mabel still belonged to a previous owner, who passed on Miller's details.
Inspector Reid visited the cellar and described the conditions: "As soon as the door was opened, there was a strong smell of ammonia, despite the kitchen area having been cleared and cleaning products on the floor. I was shown down to a freezing cold basement consisting of two rooms with a wooden door and latch."
She added: "The entire basement area was stone, both walls and floor, and despite it being three degrees Celsius outside, it felt colder inside. It was also very damp and generally unpleasant. There was a huge catering sized pan on the floor, which I assumed had contained water at some point, although this was now bone dry. There was also an upturned ceramic dog bowl next to it, empty."
Veterinary Assessment
A vet who examined Mabel found she weighed 11kg and was emaciated and dehydrated. She received intravenous fluid therapy and a feeding plan, and eventually recovered and has since been adopted. Mabel was so hungry she tried to eat leaves and rubbish when taken outside, and had cream applied to sores on her pelvic bones.
The vet said: "Considering this information and the circumstances in which she was found, it is my professional opinion that it is likely that Mabel's low body condition was caused by starvation. The owner unnecessarily allowed Mabel to suffer slowly to the point of emaciation, this suffering could have been alleviated through providing an appropriate diet and seeking veterinary advice or considering relinquishing Mabel."
Court Outcome
In mitigation, the court heard Miller was an animal lover and had cared for Mabel to an "exceptional" degree before the incident. He said he had been threatened by unknown people to whom he owed a significant debt, not to return to the property.
The magistrates said: "We have heard and seen compelling evidence of significant animal cruelty. The prosecution evidence demonstrates profound suffering on the part of the animal, and the extent of that suffering is unequivocal."
On October 9, Miller was given a 38-week jail sentence suspended for one year, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and made to pay £400 in costs and a £187 victim surcharge, along with the lifetime animal ban.
