'As I climbed the stairs, there was a horrific smell - the higher I got, the more my eyes began to sting'
The ‘putrid’ conditions at a property in Barnsley where three dogs were discovered living in a filthy and unhygienic environment have been described by an RSPCA inspector.
Three Malamute-type dogs were surrounded by rubbish and multiple piles of faeces in the fly-infested flat in Kingsland Court, Royston, which had an ‘unbearable’ smell emanating from within.
Their owner, Kimberley Grant, had ignored warnings to clean the property and has now been handed a nine-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and a five-year ban on keeping animals following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Read more: Huddersfield shop owner faces £20k ultimatum or spend week behind bars
Grant, 33, who appeared before Barnsley Magistrates Court for sentencing last Monday (October 14), had been found guilty in her absence at an earlier hearing of one charge under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
RSPCA Inspector Vanessa Reid had visited the upstairs flat on December 20 last year after the charity received information about the welfare of dogs living there. The court heard how conditions at the property were dire, with pawprints, mud or faeces covering the microwave, and cans and bottles of alcohol, clothing and general belongings strewn in the living room.
The dogs - a four-year-old bitch called Mieshka and her two nine-month-old puppies called Toffee and Price - were walking in multiple piles of animal waste and then jumping on a dirty sofa and spreading it around.
All the blinds were closed, so the flat was very dark, and there was no ventilation or open windows. A significant amount of bluebottle flies could be seen, with further insects on a strip hanging from the ceiling which was completely full.
Mieshka had a large patch of missing fur on her back, and thinning areas towards her rear end and hind legs. Toffee and Prince appeared to be in reasonable condition, but all three dogs were constantly scratching and nibbling themselves and Grant was told they were all likely to have fleas.
In her written statement to the court, Inspector Reid said: “As I climbed the stairs, there was a horrific and overpowering smell of urine and faeces, and the higher I got, the more my eyes began to sting and water with the ammonia. There were multiple piles of fresh faeces present on the landing area, and the carpet was covered in trodden in faeces and dirt.
“Grant immediately reached for a carrier bag which was already full of older faeces, and began picking up some of the piles from the carpet around me. The whole area could only be described as putrid.”
Grant was issued with a warning notice and told that conditions were not appropriate for the dogs. She was offered help with neutering them so they would be out of the flat to give her a chance to sort things out, but she told Inspector Reid that money wasn’t an issue and she was adamant she could turn the situation around in a fortnight.
The officer returned two weeks later to check whether conditions had improved, the court was told. Grant wouldn’t let Inspector Reid in, but looking through the letterbox she could see the property appeared in the same state as before and there was a strong smell coming from behind the door.
Two days later the Inspector tried again but there was still no answer. Dogs could be heard barking and a stench was still evident. Another improvement notice - which highlights what an owner should do to improve conditions for animals - was stuck to the door. But as the inspector was about to get in her van, Grant walked past.
“She hurried towards the door, opened it, ripped off the notice, and locked the door, just as I got to it,” said the Inspector. “The smell immediately after the door had been opened was unbearable, despite being stood outside in the fresh air, so I knew the conditions had not improved.
“I continued shouting through the letterbox and explained that I had no option but to obtain a warrant if she continued to ignore me, but she never opened the door, or spoke back to me.”
An application for a warrant was sent to the police immediately and carried out with the RSPCA on February 1 of this year. The flat was in the same state as had been seen previously, and all dogs were seized by the police and placed into the care of the charity and taken for veterinary treatment. It was clear from their nervous and skittish demeanours that they were not used to being on leads or going outside.
The vet who examined them at a local practice said Grant had failed to take steps to protect the dogs from pain, suffering, injury or disease and in the case of Mieshka, she hadn’t sought veterinary attention for the dog’s severe flea infestation which had led to extreme pruritus and areas of alopecia. Grant will not be able to contest her five year ban for its duration. She was also ordered to pay £400 in costs and a victim surcharge of £154.
In mitigation the court heard Grant had poor mental health and could ‘just about cope’ with one dog (Mieshka), but then inexplicably bred her and ended up with five puppies, two of whom she couldn’t find homes for. She hadn’t set out to deliberately harm the dogs, she simply couldn’t cope, magistrates were told.
A confiscation order was also imposed on the dogs after Grant refused to sign them over into the charity's care during the course of the investigation. All three have made a good recovery in the care of the RSPCA’s York, Harrogate & District and Burton upon Trent & District Branches and can now be legally rehomed following the conclusion of the case.
Get all the latest and breaking South Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.