EMMA LOUISE ELLIS has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years
Emma Louise Ellis of Trederwen, Kenfig Hill, faced two offences under the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 19 February.
Ellis failed to ensure the needs of a male bull breed named Caesar were met after failing to investigate and address the case of his poor body condition and mobility issues.
Ellis was found guilty in her absence and sentenced to four months custody, suspended for 18 months for each offence – which will run concurrently. She was also handed a community order for 18 months with 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, £700 costs and was banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
In mitigation in court it was heard that all offences were out of character.
In a witness statement – provided to the court – RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI) Gemma Black explained that she attended the Trederwen property on several occasions following concerns of two dogs inside who had been left unattended.
On her first visit on 10 June 2024 with Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Andrew Harris, she saw a fish tank that was green that the neighbours told her housed an axolotl which she did not see. The blinds were restricting her view of the dogs in the living room but she could see that they were both standing, and were bright and alert and barking at me in the window.
Through the window of the back door and the window of the kitchen DCI Black was able to get a better look at the two dogs.
She said: “I was told that the larger of the two, a brindle and white bull breed dog was named Caesar and that the smaller bull breed dog was named Storm.
“Storm was in reasonable bodily condition, however Caesar was thin. I could see his ribs and some of his spine and hip bones were protruding and his waist was very small. As he walked he had a wobbly gait and was a little unsteady on his back legs. I suspect he was an elderly dog.
“I could see that there was a casserole dish on the floor of the kitchen which had some water. No food was seen for the dogs.”
ARO Harris sealed both the front and back doors to the property and also left a tape seal across the living room window of the front of the house which was slightly ajar although in a locked position. This is part of a process to see if anyone returns to the home.
DCI Black returned on 11 June and on this occasion they saw a long haired grey and white cat leave the front garden. A neighbour confirmed that the cat was also from this address and owned by the residents.
She said: “I checked the seals on the front and back doors of the address and they were still intact which demonstrated that nobody had entered the address since we had attended previously.
“After knocking on the windows and doors I saw that both dogs came down the stairs from the upstairs of the address. I became increasingly concerned about their welfare, particularly Caesar who was still very thin and wobbly when moving.”
DCI next returned the following day on 12 June and the seals were still intact “so it was apparent now that nobody had entered or left the address since these had been put in place”.
She added: “Through the back door and window I could again see both dogs. Both were bright and alert but I became increasingly concerned for their welfare. The red casserole dish that I had previously seen on the floor of the kitchen was still there but there was only a shallow amount of water remaining from what I could see through the window.”
Video footage of the dogs was shown to a vet who advised that Caesar was likely to suffer if the circumstances did not change – which led to DCI Black contacting South Wales Police for assistance in gaining access to the property.
On 17 June DCI Black was informed that the police had managed to get hold of the owner who agreed to attend the property along with the police.
When DCI Black arrived the police were already in attendance and the two dogs from the property were loose around the road. The police assisted in containing them and they were placed safely in the RSPCA van.
She said: “The elderly brindle and white bull breed dog … Caesar was extremely thin and although mobile was weak and wobbly in his back end. The black and white smaller breed dog … Storm was bright and alert and appeared to be in a reasonable condition.”
Inside the property DCI Black said she was not able to see an axolotl in the tank as it was “thick and green with algae”. However Ellis – who was also in attendance – was able to safely catch the axolotl who was underneath a hide within the tank.
All the animals were admitted to a veterinary surgery for care and boarding.
Following an examination by a vet, Caesar was found to have a body condition score of one out of nine (with four and five out of nine being normal).
Caesar also had a testicular tumour, worn down teeth and was very wobbly on both of his back legs with no ability to tell which way up his back feet were.
The vet added that in their professional opinion the person responsible for Caesar’s care had failed in their duty of care by not providing enough food.
Unfortunately due to health conditions Caesar was put to sleep on the advice of a vet. Fortunately, the other dog Storm, cat known as Nala and the axolotl – named Bubbles – have all been rehomed.
Following sentencing DCI Black said: “This was a very sad case where sadly the owner did not meet the needs of these animals – and they were just left unattended.
“We urge people who are having difficulties caring for their pets to seek help from charities and organisations out there.”
For welfare advice please visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare.
