Owners of heavily pregnant Bella failed to get vet attention for an injury
SWANSEA man and woman have been sentenced after they caused unnecessary suffering to a heavily pregnant German Shepherd cross dog by failing to provide vet care to a leg injury.
Roseanne Lee (d.o.b 09/09/1999) of Seymour Site and Nathan Price (d.o.b 23/05/1991) of 17 Lavender Court, Tudno Place, Penlan, Swansea appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 25 September. They previously pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act.
They were that they jointly caused unnecessary suffering to a female German Shepherd cross type dog known as Bella by failing to provide adequate or effective professional veterinary care and attention for the injury or injuries to her left hind limb.
At the sentencing hearing Lee and Price were disqualified for life from keeping any animal and were ordered to pay £400 costs each and undertake 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements days.
Price was handed a 12 week prison sentence which was suspended for a year and Lee was handed an eight week prison sentence which was suspended for a year.
The court heard that on 16 January RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper presented a video of Bella to a veterinary surgeon. The vet advised that she thought her leg was broken and it looked like it had been broken for quite some time and had therefore healed abnormally.
DCI Cooper subsequently contacted the police requesting assistance and met officers at a temporary travellers site off Corporation Road on 17 January and Bella was found lying in the back of a Peugeot van.
In her witness statement – which was provided to the court – DCI Cooper said: “There was carpet that had been laid in the back of the van but no access to food or water.
“Roseanne Lee said that her dog was called Bella and that she was pregnant and that it was her due date today so that’s why she had placed her in the van.
“Bella was heavily pregnant but also underweight with her spine and hip bones protruding. She was extremely lame on her back left leg and it “swung” when she walked.”
Bella was seized by police.
DCI Cooper said: “Roseanne Lee stated that Bella’s leg was already broken when they bought her two to three months ago and that’s why she was only £50.
“She said she was part of their family now and they love her very much.”
Bella was taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic and following an examination it was confirmed she was fit to travel to another RSPCA veterinary centre in Birmingham where they could cater for her multiple medical needs.
On 18 January Bella gave birth to 11 puppies and all were well and made good progress.
In a veterinary report – provided to the court – the vet stated that following the birth, Bella’s ability to get up and move around on three legs was improved.
The vet said: “Mostly she was carrying the leg held up and did not bear any weight at all with it, instead preferring to hop on three legs.”
On 31 January Bella was anaesthetised and radiographs were taken of her hind legs and pelvis. In the summary – included the in vet report – it stated that her hind leg had a femoral neck fracture with evidence of loss of bone density indicating chronicity (minimum four to eight weeks).
The radiographs also showed a fracture of the femur which was completely healed at a nearly 90 degree angle and the stifle joint (knee) was found to be in an anatomically incorrect position and unstable on manipulation.
The report stated that she would have been suffering and that the femoral fracture likely occurred at least 10 to 12 weeks prior.
“Significant force is necessary to cause a femoral shaft fracture,” the report said. “This force must have been a strong impact such as a form of a road traffic accident or a kick to the leg. This is a very painful injury to sustain and would have caused instant and ongoing signs of pain including complete non-weight bearing of the limb for at least two to three weeks.
“Any reasonable owner would have sought veterinary attention for pain relief and treatment options (stabilisation of the fracture or leg amputation) within hours of the injury occurring.”
The report added: “Reportedly Bella was to have her puppies in the back of a van. Her impaired mobility would have made it difficult for her to enter or leave this van for toileting or exercising.
“The difficulty would have been compounded by her pregnancy and additional weight. Even if she was helped into and out of the van the handling of her rear end to do this would have caused pain to her injured leg each time.
“In addition, unless a heat course was provided, the van would have been a wholly unsuitable environment to give birth due to the lack of insulation and warmth.”
Bella and her 11 puppies were transferred to a foster home and then in March they were officially signed over to the RSPCA for rehoming by their owner.
In RSPCA care, Bella was given the veterinary treatment she needed and her leg was amputated once the pups had been weaned. She is now doing well in the care of an RSPCA branch and is awaiting her forever home. All the puppies have been happily rehomed.
