Puppy rehomed by Halifax RSPCA: Woman given five-year animal ban after 30 dogs found living in terraced house
A woman who kept 30 dogs in filthy and hazardous conditions at her home in North Yorkshire has been banned from keeping animals for five years.
RSPCA officers found multiple terriers and lurchers living amongst faeces, rotten food and rat droppings at the mid-terrace property in Whitby Road, Loftus, in September 2023.
Two dogs were pregnant and eight puppies were later born in the charity’s care.
Most of the dogs have been rehomed, including one by the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford Branch team.
At a hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court earlier this month, Ginette Warne, 59, was sentenced for one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
The court heard several RSPCA officers and the police attended the address on September, 19 2023 following concerns for the welfare of dogs living there.
In her written statement to the court, one of the RSPCA Inspectors, Gemma Lynch, said: “When I opened the front door there was immediately a very strong smell of faeces and urine that could be smelt from outside.
"When entering the front room, the floor was completely full of clutter and it was very moist under my feet caused by dog faeces and urine.
“There were a large number of adult lurchers and lurcher puppies loose. The environment was totally unsuitable for them to be living in. I could not see any clean or comfortable resting area.
"The smell was so strong that I had to leave the address.”
Three of the dogs were being kept in the rear yard and had dirty, wet coats and patches of fur loss.
Two lurchers were also removed by Warne from a van parked outside her property.
In total the officers removed 19 male and female lurcher puppies, four adult female lurchers, two male and four female adult Jack Russell Terriers, and one male Jack Russell puppy.
A vet attended the scene and certified they all needed to be removed because of the environment they were living in and they were taken into possession by the police and transported for veterinary treatment.
On examination, two female Jack Russell Terriers were found to be pregnant and later gave birth to eight puppies in RSPCA care.
She said all 30 dogs had not had their needs met with regards to a suitable environment.
In mitigation the court heard that Warne, who was also given a 12 month Community Order with ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 40 hours of unpaid work, had poor mental health.
Speaking after sentencing Inspector Lynch said “Conditions inside the property were extremely poor for humans and animals alike. The smell of urine and faeces made it difficult for us to stay inside for long periods and the environment was wet underfoot and extremely cluttered.
“We’re really pleased all the dogs and puppies from this case, apart from three, who were sadly put to sleep on medical grounds, made a good recovery, and the vast majority are already enjoying life in caring new homes thanks to the fantastic work of our animal centres, branches and partner organisations.”
One of the dogs, called Clipper, was rehomed thanks to the team at the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford Branch on Wade Street in Halifax.