The owner of a dog who was abandoned at a Barry property and was rescued by the RSPCA has been sentenced.
Staffordshire bull terrier type dog Gucci was left for a number of days at a Hanover Court property where her needs were not met. Due to concerns about her welfare, entry was gained with police on 10 July 2024 and Gucci was seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
Jamie Stephen Colburn of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 21 November.
The offence was that he failed to meet Gucci’s needs of providing a suitable environment, to provide a suitable diet including continuous access to an adequate supply of clean fresh drinking water, to express normal behavioural patterns and to provide adequate care and supervision of the animal.
He was fined £200, ordered to pay £400 costs and a £80 victim surcharge. He was also banned from keeping all animals for two years. The court felt a community order could not be imposed as Colburn is a serving prisoner.
In mitigation it was heard that he had been living in a car and when the car broke down he couldn’t get to the house and there had been a breakdown in communication.
In a written witness statement, provided to the court, RSPCA Inspector Christine McNeil said she attended the Barry property on 4 July 2024.
She said: “Tape seals placed by a colleague on the door and frame and over the lock were still in place and undisturbed.
“I tried to look through the letterbox but there was a dog barking aggressively at the letterbox from inside. I was unable to see the dog clearly to be able to assess it.
“However, after waiting a while for the dog to move back from the letterbox, I was able to look through and see a few piles of faeces in the hallway.”
Inspector McNeil made enquiries with those living nearby and a neighbour had been feeding the dog through the letterbox and giving ice cubes twice a day since Monday.
Enquiries were made on Monday 8 July and Tuesday 9 July where the tape seals remained intact on the door – meaning the owner had not returned. Arrangements were then made with the police to meet the following morning.
On 10 July the tape seals on the door and lock were still undisturbed and Gucci was removed from the property. Gucci who “appeared in reasonable bodily condition and was bright and alert” was seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
Following sentencing, Inspector McNeil said: “Gucci’s needs were not met and she was just abandoned and left to fend for herself by her owner. Having a pet is a big responsibility and their needs should always be met.”
