South Wales Woman Banned from Keeping Dogs After 90 Rescued from Home in Tredegar
Dogs were left without proper beds, clean drinking water, and had to live amongst faeces
A woman in Tredegar has been banned for 5 years from keeping dogs after she kept 90 dogs in Unsuitable and filthy conditions.
Julie Elizabeth Newcombe, aged 44, was found guilty of one offence under the Animal Welfare Act at Newport Magistrates’ Court on the 15th of September. On the 27th of October, she was given a 5-year ban from keeping dogs and given a 12-month probation order at her sentencing.
She was found guilty of not ensuing the needs of all 90 dogs were met to the extent required as ‘good practice’. Factors of the ‘unsuitable conditions’ included keeping the dogs in an environment full of faeces and urine, failing to provide clean drinking water and large enough accommodation, and failing to provide appropriate nutrition for the animals.
The court heard that Newcombe’s inability to look after the dogs had stemmed from issues in her personal circumstances. The judge commented that he struggled to find that she purposefully failed to care for the dogs needs and considered if a reasonable person in the same situation would have done the same to the dogs.
RSPCA Inspector Darren Oakley said “The dogs had no food or water, the only few that did have water were the ones with outside access due to the rain.
“When food and water was placed down, for the loose dogs, they ate/drank ravenously. The conditions inside the house were horrendous; the floors were covered in faeces with dogs in cages living in their own filth.
“Every room contained more dogs and pups; the whole house had become one large disgusting kennel. The smell and sights were clearly having an effect on the police who were in attendance.”
After the dogs were rescued, several the dogs, mainly puppies, became sick and either died or were put to sleep due to their suffering.
But for the dogs who remain, RSPCA Chief Inspector Elaine Spence said, “Thankfully we are very pleased to say that these dogs are now living happily in forever homes.”