Five year ban after dog owner abused pets
Footage was captured on her doorbell and shared with an animal welfare charity
A woman in North Somerset has been banned from keeping animals for five years after committing multiple animal offences.
Lauren Leigh Barker of Mantle Close, Clevedon, North Somerset, was found guilty after an investigation by the RSPCA.
The animal welfare charity began an investigation after being shown a series of clips from door cam footage showing Barker and her two dogs.
The clips of footage includes Baker screaming and swearing at her dog Rocco, slamming doors, dragging him on a lead. Others show her kicking at the dog a number of times before slamming the door after which a dog can be heard to vocalise.
The vet who viewed the footage said in their report: “In my opinion Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner towards this dog.
"Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer.”
Alongside the animal disqualification order, which she can not appeal for two years, she was also sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and ordered to pay £500 costs when she was sentenced at North Somerset Magistrates Court on May 6.
Baker maintains she is not guilty and that Rocco was an aggressive dog so she was acting in self-defence and plans to appeal her conviction.
Behavioural assessments were carried out on Rocco while he was being cared for by a team at an RSPCA rescue centre. He was found to behave favourably in a range of situations, including being tolerant of vets who were able to carry out checks without any issues or the need for additional restraint, making him suitable for rehoming.
RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the charity, said: “We’re extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations.”