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Dog owner banned from keeping pets
A woman "incapable of caring for animals" who lied to the RSPCA was banned for life from owning pets, a court heard.
Single-mum Deborah Holden of Romney Close, Braintree, escaped prison after pleading guilty to failing to protect an animal from pain and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Holden, 45, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to the charges of neglect in caring for a bull terrier type dog called Saracen.
Sarah Otte, prosecuting, provided the background to the case explaining that the RSPCA visited Holden's home on July 28 last year.
The court heard that the RSPCA saw a black and white bull terrier with "extensive fur loss and sore patches due to itching."
The court heard that Holden said an appointment had been made for Saracen to see the vet but when the RSPCA stepped outside to confirm the appointment on the phone the vet denied any knowledge of an appointment.
Holden, who also had four adult cats in her home, had a flea infestation in her home and it was the fleas that were causing Saracen discomfort, the court heard.
Kerry Walker said in mitigation that Holden was "extremely distressed" as to the outcome of the case and "it was certainly the case that she could not afford the vet bills."
Pam Joughin, chair of the bench, ordered Holden carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work and be banned from owning pets for life.
She said: "Two hundred hours is a very high order as an alternative to sending you to prison."
Holden was also ordered to pay £300 costs.
4:33pm Tuesday 26th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: emma hill, braintree on 4:20pm Wed 27 Feb 08
name and shame why dont you!! we all see and hear of people physically hurting animals intentionally. here is someone who loved and cared for her animals but needed help with vet fees! her poor children have had to watch their life long friends ( cos lets face it our pets are our friends and family) be taken away
name and shame why dont you!! we all see and hear of people physically hurting animals intentionally. here is someone who loved and cared for her animals but needed help with vet fees! her poor children have had to watch their life long friends ( cos lets face it our pets are our friends and family) be taken away
Posted by: Emma Hill, braintree on 4:38pm Wed 27 Feb 08
and aother thing why has the person in question been punished soo much when there are other stories on the same web page, regarding VISCOUS dogs that have got away with small fine. Not only has she had her pets taken away she has been fined AND given comunity service AND a ban for life!!! Just the ban for life is enough punishment surely!
and aother thing why has the person in question been punished soo much when there are other stories on the same web page, regarding VISCOUS dogs that have got away with small fine. Not only has she had her pets taken away she has been fined AND given comunity service AND a ban for life!!! Just the ban for life is enough punishment surely!
Posted by: deb holden, braintree on 4:44pm Wed 27 Feb 08
i the accused would like to make a statement on my half of the story. i would just like to say that before i was reported to the rspca i had previously contacted them myself and asked for help with the cost of vet treatment for my dog and i was told they would not help me with the cost of flea treatment. if i had of been provided with the help when i asked for it this would never of happened. the rspca say they are there to care and protect animals from pain and suffering yet they could not help with the cost of vet treatment which is not alot of money to them but for myself being a single mum of three who works to support them it is. the rspca made my dog suffer more as while in there care the dog pulled out all his claws broke all his teeth while trying to chew his way out of his cage and lost 2kg in weight yet they did not tell these details in court.
i the accused would like to make a statement on my half of the story. i would just like to say that before i was reported to the rspca i had previously contacted them myself and asked for help with the cost of vet treatment for my dog and i was told they would not help me with the cost of flea treatment. if i had of been provided with the help when i asked for it this would never of happened. the rspca say they are there to care and protect animals from pain and suffering yet they could not help with the cost of vet treatment which is not alot of money to them but for myself being a single mum of three who works to support them it is. the rspca made my dog suffer more as while in there care the dog pulled out all his claws broke all his teeth while trying to chew his way out of his cage and lost 2kg in weight yet they did not tell these details in court.
Posted by: J. Hill, braintree on 5:00pm Wed 27 Feb 08
I know the lady in question, and i feel she is being made an example of. By all means punish her but not three times over! Perhaps the RSPCA should find the time to go round and knock on a few random doors, they would no doubt find a lot more dogs/cats in a lot worse condition. In one of the other stories on the web site, the dogs had attacked another dog, why weren't they taken away and destroyed, why wasn't their owner taken to court, why were they not banned for life and given community service? Naming and shaming her has only added to her and her childrens distress and i, and many others, feel that she is owed an apology.
I know the lady in question, and i feel she is being made an example of. By all means punish her but not three times over! Perhaps the RSPCA should find the time to go round and knock on a few random doors, they would no doubt find a lot more dogs/cats in a lot worse condition. In one of the other stories on the web site, the dogs had attacked another dog, why weren't they taken away and destroyed, why wasn't their owner taken to court, why were they not banned for life and given community service? Naming and shaming her has only added to her and her childrens distress and i, and many others, feel that she is owed an apology.
Posted by: P, Braintree on 1:31pm Sun 2 Mar 08
If, as you say, you are having trouble affording the care for your pets then surely you shouldn't have them at all? It's a hard decision I've had to make myself. I lost my job and could no longer afford the care of my dog but instead of letting it suffer I gave it up to the RSPCA who in turn found someone who could care for it in a way I no longer could, saving me from fines, communtiy service and a ban for life.
If, as you say, you are having trouble affording the care for your pets then surely you shouldn't have them at all? It's a hard decision I've had to make myself. I lost my job and could no longer afford the care of my dog but instead of letting it suffer I gave it up to the RSPCA who in turn found someone who could care for it in a way I no longer could, saving me from fines, communtiy service and a ban for life.
Posted by: bertis, romney marsh on 2:47pm Tue 4 Mar 08
i think you are a wicked person and you should NEVER own any animals. GO TO HELL[italic]italic[/italic]
i think you are a wicked person and you should NEVER own any animals. GO TO HELL
Posted by: k, colchester on 9:32pm Sat 3 May 08
what this lady fails to realise is that owning an animal you need to cover the basic needs of an animal this includes regular worming and de fleaing if she had done this then there would have been no for the fur loss and a trip to the vets the rspca should not have to pay for the basic care from what i have heard she also knowing that she couldn't afford previous treatment then went out and purchased another dog
what this lady fails to realise is that owning an animal you need to cover the basic needs of an animal this includes regular worming and de fleaing if she had done this then there would have been no for the fur loss and a trip to the vets the rspca should not have to pay for the basic care from what i have heard she also knowing that she couldn't afford previous treatment then went out and purchased another dog
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