The RSPCA brought a private prosecution against Linda Hodges, of Jubilee Avenue in East Harling, near Thetford, at Norwich Magistrates Court yesterday. Hodges, 51, was unable to attend the conclusion of the case due to illness, but pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to ensure animal welfare on Thursday, October 27.
It was said that between April 13 and May 13 of this year Hodges did not provide adequate nutrition, parasitic control or veterinary care for her two German Shepherds, called Max and Blade, and her Cocker Spaniel, called Sadie.
Prosecutor, Jonathan Eales, told the court that Hodges had undergone a serious spinal operation in hospital in the past and said: “Her three dogs were very thin, two were emaciated with various skin complaints and there is a history to this.
“Mrs Hodges was first contacted in October 2009 and given an improvement notice as it was found that her dogs were suffering as her house was not in a very good condition, with a lot of faecal matter found.
“She responded to that and sorted the house out but on May 6 this year, around 18 months later, the RSPCA saw the three dogs again and it was immediately apparent that they were vastly underweight and suffering from skin conditions.”
It was said that the two German Shepherds weighed 19kg and 20kg when they should have weighed closer to 32kg, while the Cocker Spaniel weighed 9kg when it should have weighed 14kg.
Through proper care from the RSPCA the three dogs are now back to full health, with the German Shepherds back up to 30kg and the Cocker Spaniel back to 15kg. Mr Eales added that Hodges had informed him: “I do not intend to keep any more animals as I am not well enough.”
Chairman of the sitting magistrates’ bench, Elaine Donovan, ordered the five-year ban and £1,000 fine in Hodges’ absence and said: “We’ve taken into account Mrs Hodges’ previous conduct with regard to these animals, it seems she was in denial about their conditions.
“This was causing suffering to these animals, however Mrs Hodges has signed over the dogs to the RSPCA and we can be grateful that these dogs are back to the condition that they should have been. “Taking this all into account, we are disqualifying her from looking after any animals for the next five years.”