Michelle Batty has been banned from keeping animals for life after four dogs were discovered in a home described as filthy with faeces and urine-covered floors. Three of the dogs were so severely neglected that a veterinarian decided the kindest course of action was to euthanise them.
The conditions
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Kelly Nix visited Batty's property on Robinson Street in Preston on October 6 last year, while police were present. Batty was keeping four dogs in a very poor environment. In a statement, the officer said: "I was immediately hit by the smell of urine and faeces at the property."
The dogs were living in squalor, and Batty admitted she had not taken them to a vet. All four animals were seized and taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
The dogs' suffering
French bulldogs Buddy and Finn were struggling to walk, with nails curled over into their pads causing open wounds. A spaniel named Tilly had open sores on her back toes that were bleeding and oozing. Buddy also suffered from a degenerative spinal condition that left him unable to walk on his back legs or control his bladder.
A veterinary examination showed that Buddy's overgrown nails had been penetrating his skin for at least two weeks, causing significant pain. Finn was very lame due to an infected wound from an overgrown nail, and Tilly had chronic infected wounds with missing toe bones. The vet stated all three had a poor quality of life and ongoing pain.
Court proceedings
Batty appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to four animal welfare offences at Preston Magistrates’ Court on July 15. As well as the disqualification from keeping animals, she was given a 12-month community order requiring 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £144.
The court heard Batty was remorseful and had no previous convictions. She signed the dogs over to the RSPCA. The fourth dog, Lesley, was later discharged from the hospital and rehomed.
After sentencing, Deputy Chief Inspector Nix said: "These poor dogs were left without veterinary care in dreadful conditions at the defendant’s property. Some of them already had health issues and the failure to take care of them and address the filth and squalor they were living in made matters worse."
