A family has been banned from keeping animals after neglecting three Jack Russell Terriers, leaving them to suffer for weeks. Irene Pallent, 65, her partner Derek Lane, 61, and her son Stuart Pallent, 40, each received suspended prison sentences and animal bans ranging from 10 to 15 years.
The dogs were discovered at Leighton Road in Grangetown last December and were removed by police before the RSPCA launched an investigation. All three animals were found to be suffering from acute fur loss and had severely overgrown nails, with one of them completely blind.
Court hearing and veterinary findings
The three were sentenced at Teesside Magistrates' Court on September 3 after each pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences. Magistrates heard particular concern regarding an elderly female dog named Sadie, who was almost entirely bald, appeared blind, and had discharge seeping from her eyes.
The vet who examined the dogs after their rescue concluded their needs had not been met and that they had suffered needlessly for at least six weeks due to the defendants' failure to treat their skin condition. Sadie was found to be almost completely bald, with severe dermatitis and a bacterial skin infection known as pyoderma, reports Teesside Live.
She weighed just 3.8kgs (8.37lbs) and was assigned a body condition score of 2/9, indicating she was critically underweight. Sadie had numerous lumps, severely overgrown nails and was confirmed blind. She also showed signs of neurological issues and was persistently walking in circles. The vet confirmed Sadie had suffered for a minimum of four weeks due to the defendants' failure to address her deteriorating condition. Given her advanced dementia, the vet recommended she be put to sleep.
Condition of the other dogs
Eight-year-old Rosy, a female Jack Russell terrier type, was also severely underweight with significant skin loss and overgrown nails. The third dog, Susie, another elderly Jack Russell terrier type, suffered fur loss, overgrown nails, and several lumps beneath the skin, most notably three mammary tumours.
In her written statement to the court, the vet said: "Sadie, Rosy and Susie were all suffering from advanced skin disease. This was obvious from the very notable loss of fur, the thickened and reddened skin and the notable irritation to the animals particularly when handling them. There was also a notable odour."
"The most likely initiating cause of the skin problem was flea allergic dermatitis, one of the most common skin diseases in dogs and fleas are one of the most common parasites. Flea bites initially cause minor irritation. However, with exposure over time, many animals become allergic to the bites and even one or two bites can cause major histamine release leading to severe itching."
"Left untreated the skin becomes disrupted, the hair falls out, the skin becomes thickened and infected. This leads to further distress for the dog."
"Any responsible and humane person would have recognised that there was a problem causing all three dogs distress and would have sought appropriate advice and treatment. In the case of Sadie, her emaciated state was visibly obvious. Whatever the reason for loss of body condition, it is incumbent on an owner to monitor the condition of their animals and address any notable changes."
Defendants' responses and sentencing
Throughout the investigation, Derek Lane acknowledged he shared responsibility for the dogs alongside Irene and Stuart Pallent, and agreed to surrender them to the RSPCA. He was informed that a vet had concluded they had suffered unnecessarily, yet declined the opportunity to have a vet of his own choosing assess them and refused to cooperate with an RSPCA interview.
Irene Pallent stated that Sadie belonged to her son, while the remaining two dogs were hers. She acknowledged all three animals were in a poor condition at Leighton Road, but declined to have an independent vet assess them or speak about what had taken place. Stuart Pallent informed the inspector that he, his mother and her partner had all shared responsibility for the dogs prior to their removal, though he too refused to be interviewed.
Irene Pallent, now residing at The Peppergarth, Northallerton, received a 17-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was banned from keeping animals for 15 years. Derek Lane, also of The Peppergarth, and Stuart Pallent, of Yarm Road, Stockton, both received 16-week sentences, suspended for 12 months, along with a 10-year ban. All three were ordered to pay costs of £450 each and a £154 victim surcharge.
Outcomes for the dogs
Rosy was taken in by the RSPCA's Warrington, Halton and St Helens Branch, where it took six weeks to bring her skin condition under control. She has since been rehomed and now looks like an entirely different dog, though her skin continues to be carefully monitored.
Despite undergoing extensive treatment, Susie's health failed to improve and she was sadly put to sleep on veterinary advice. RSPCA Chief Inspector for Durham and Cleveland, Natalie Hill, said: "These little dogs suffered weeks of neglect because the defendants hadn't provided the most basic of care.
"Providing flea treatment is part and parcel of being a responsible owner and treating pets regularly stops infestations before they harm the animal or spread in the home. Sadly all three dogs had not received the care they should have for quite some time; Sadie's condition in particular was very distressing. Thanks to the appropriate treatment, Rosy now looks like a different dog, and her transformation is also testament to the love and care she received at our branch-run animal centre in Warrington."
