A woman from Pinner has been banned from keeping dogs and cats for five years following an RSPCA investigation into severe neglect.
Christie Baker (DOB: 17 December 2001), of Howards Close, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 14 July to causing unnecessary suffering to her dog, Dior, a two-year-old tan crossbreed.
The RSPCA began investigating in November 2024, when neighbours reported distressing barking from Baker’s flat, after it appeared no one had been home for two days. RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster attended the property on 7 November and contacted police to gain access.
Inspector Broster said:: “The moment the door was open I was hit by an overpowering smell of faeces and urine. The police invited me in to assist with the animals within the property. The urine was so strong my eyes were stinging and I couldn’t stop coughing and wretching and had to leave the property several times as I was unable to breathe.”
Inside, Dior was found cowering in the kitchen among rubbish and faeces. The curtains were drawn, and the dog had likely been in complete darkness.
“She appeared very scared but also guarding the room” added Inspector Broster. “There was a mattress that Dior was jumping on that was filthy. I could see the room was full of rubbish, empty bags of dog food had been ripped open, rubbish everywhere and there was even a bottle of bleach on the floor that had been chewed.”
Dior was taken to Finsbury Park Animal Hospital for assessment. A veterinary report described her as underweight, with mild muscle wasting and visible signs of a chronic skin condition.
She had red, inflamed skin, hair loss, scabs around both ears, and a flea infestation. Her breathing was abnormally fast, and she had a heart murmur.
The vet said: “Dior has suffered due to untreated ear and skin disease. This would definitely have been noticeable to an owner as the signs of skin disease were clearly visible. It is likely that this disease was present for at least a week and likely longer due to the level of thickening of the tissue.”
As well as being prohibited from keeping dogs and cats for five yearsBaker was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, and fined £40 and ordered to pay a £144 victim surcharge.
In mitigation, her defence cited no previous convictions and said Baker suffers from depression and ADHD, and is now receiving treatment. She acknowledged the poor conditions and accepted that she failed to seek necessary veterinary care due to financial issues and lack of awareness about the severity of the dog’s illness.
She has since renovated the property with council assistance.
Dior is recovering in RSPCA care and awaiting rehoming (pictured above).
