Two men and a woman who failed to take care of a Staffordshire bull terrier who collapsed at a South London flat have received 10-year animal bans after a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Rosanne Penfold (D.O.B 7/9/1988) and Gareth Fitton (D.O.B 23/12/1984), both of Brightwell Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Shane Dixon, (D.O.B 3/11/1980), of Samuel Jones Court, Peckham, pleaded guilty to failing to address the canine’s weight loss under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
As well as the disqualification, Penfold and Fitton were handed 16-week prison sentences which were suspended for 12 months and they were both told to undertake 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) Days when they appeared for sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 2.
At the same hearing, as well as receiving a ban, Dixon was given a 14-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months and he was told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
RSPCA Inspector Leanna Hone said in a statement to the court that she went to Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Pimlico on March 21 last year (2024) to collect a black and white Staffie called Betty who had been brought into the hospital by Penfold and Fitton after she collapsed at a flat at Rosemary Court in Ferdinand Drive, Peckham a week before.
The inspector said that Betty appeared to be “very thin”. Her ribs, spine and hips were easily visible and the fur on her lower legs were stained in urine.
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A vet at the hospital who examined the three-year-old dog said Betty was suffering with muscle wastage and in a body condition rating she scored the canine one out of nine which is considered to be a state of emaciation.
Betty also had a wound on her tail that had scabbed over and she was suffering from ulcers on her feet and overgrown nails.
The vet said: “Betty’s suffering could have been avoided by providing proper care for her, including food and water as well as clean accommodation. She should have been taken to a vet to be checked if there were any concerns about her health.”
The court heard that Penfold and Fitton had left the dog in the care of Dixon, who was Penfold’s neighbour, after she left South London to live in Essex. But Dixon claimed he only went “occasionally” to the property to let Betty and some other dogs out and he said he was being blamed for the situation.
In mitigation the court was told that Penfold suffered from disabilities and had been the victim of domestic abuse. Fitton and Dixon were said to be remorseful about their actions.
All three defendants will each have to pay a contribution to costs of £650 and victim surcharges of £154.
Betty has since made a good recovery in the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed to a loving new owner.
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Hone said: “Whatever arrangement was made to care for Betty was neglected so badly that she collapsed at this flat and required hospital treatment. The defendants had failed in their duty of care for the dog, but thankfully Betty (pictured now) has recovered and the story has a happy ending as she is doing so well in her new home.”
