A cruel dog owner who left her dog called Rocky to starve to death inside a filthy house after she moved to live with a new partner has been spared jail.
Carrie Hansford abandoned her Staffordshire Bull Terrier – who had been her pet for 10 years – leaving him to die a slow and painful death surrounded by huge piles of rubbish and his own waste.
Distressing photographs show the starved dog’s corpse lying in the filth. Handsford had seen the dog the day after he died but instead of alerting authorities, left his tiny body to rot before heading back to her new lover’s home, a court heard previously.
A dog warden eventually broke into her home in Southampton, Hampshire, with a warrant, where he found the Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s ’emaciated’ and insect-riddled remains.
Hansford was this week banned from keeping animals for five years and was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also made to work 100 hours unpaid.
After being called to Hansford’s house, animal handler Mark Knight described before Portsmouth Magistrates Court how he discovered 10-year-old Rocky surrounded by mounds of his own excrement.
The former veterinary nurse reported that there was a “overwhelming” smell when she first arrived on the property.
“The smell instantly told me something was wrong, and my first thoughts were that I was going to find something dead,” Mr. Knight stated.
Mr. Knight went upstairs to investigate the first floor of the house before going back downstairs, where the scent was more intense.
He claimed to have seen months and months’ worth of dog feces as soon as he entered the kitchen. The malnourished dog was clearly dead on the floor as I happened to glance by the kitchen bench.
‘It was very distressing. I was a vet for six years and also an animal welfare officer and it is one of the worst cases in 10 years I have come across.’
He added: ‘It is clear the owner intended to leave the dog to die. She easily could have gotten assistance and help and that would’ve given the dog a chance.
Being shut up in a room without food or drink was not going to work for him. Everywhere you looked, there were torn packages. The dog had been looking for food and for some means of survival.
“I am here for the welfare of animals as an animal warden.” That was a moment of pure emotion for me.
In the past, she entered a guilty plea to two charges of inflicting needless suffering on a protected species.
The court was informed that Rocky, who weighed just 6.75 kg when he was discovered, had died a protracted, agonizing death from malnutrition and dehydration. His collar was horribly four times too big for him.
Although the duration of his death is unknown, Southampton Magistrates’ Court was previously informed that Hansford saw Rocky on the day in question.
The court heard that she moved in with her new lover and left the family dog behind.
“I think the sentence is quite shocking, but she now has five years to reflect and hopefully not do anything like this again,” Mr. Knight continued, discussing the term she received.
“Dogs are completely reliant on their owners and to not provide for their needs is a breach of the law,” an RSPCA representative stated following the punishment.
Essential components of providing care include giving food, water, and a proper place to live.
“The veterinarian emphasized that Rocky was deprived of food and water for an extended duration, and the agony he went through as a consequence is inconceivable.”
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