A woman from Oldham has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after admitting she neglected her two Maltese dogs, one of whom died after being found in an emaciated state.
Shauna Rouse, claimed she had discovered the dogs abandoned in a bush while on the school run in the Moorside area of Oldham on 7 March this year. However, an RSPCA investigation later proved that the dogs were her own pets.
The dogs, one of whom was collapsed and unresponsive, were taken to the Dogs Trust Manchester Rehoming Centre in Denton, prompting a media appeal from the charity. CCTV later showed Rouse arriving by car and carrying the animals into the centre.
At Tameside Magistrates’ Court on 10 October, Rouse was disqualified from keeping animals for a decade and handed a 12-month community order, including a ten-week curfew from 9pm to 7am. She was also ordered to pay £200 in costs. She had previously pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
One of the dogs, a microchipped male called Bailey, was found collapsed and severely emaciated. The attending vet reported, “Bailey was recumbent and unresponsive on presentation. His heart rate was 40 beats per minute and his respiratory rate was two breaths per minute. His limbs were stiff and curled into the fetal position.”
Bailey had a body condition score of one out of nine and weighed only 2.75kg. His organs were shutting down, and he was humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.
The second dog, who was not microchipped, was nicknamed Tiny Tim by veterinary staff. He was extremely underweight, weighing 2.8kg, with prominent ribs and matted fur. He was warmed with blankets and a heat lamp and placed on a feeding plan. Over the following days he gained weight and made a full recovery.
Further investigation by RSPCA Inspector Rachel Whalley linked Rouse to the dogs despite Bailey’s outdated microchip details. When interviewed, Rouse admitted she owned the dogs, whose real names were Bailey and Marley, and said she had lied about finding them because she was “scared.”
Inspector Whalley said after sentencing, “These little dogs had been abandoned in a pitiful state weighing just a few kilograms each and their condition greatly upset staff at both animal welfare charities. Bailey was lying in a foetal position and was barely responsive, and although the vets at Dogs Trust immediately did everything they could for him, sadly his life couldn’t be saved.
“We were cautiously optimistic about Tiny Tim’s chances, and I’d like to thank Dogs Trust for the many weeks of care they gave him and to everyone who provided information which allowed us to go forward with this investigation.”
Tiny Tim was rehomed by Dogs Trust in April, weighing 4.09kg, and is now settled in his new home.
Lisa Eardly, Manager at Dogs Trust Manchester, said, “The dogs came into our care in an appalling condition, which was incredibly upsetting, but we are delighted that Tiny Tim is now in a safe, loving family enjoying life in his forever home. If anyone is struggling to care for their dog, please get in touch with us.
“Dogs Trust, along with our colleagues at the RSPCA and other charities, has support available to owners, including pet food banks and our free behaviour support line, and we’re ready to step in to help if owners make the decision to rehome their dogs.”
