County Durham woman who neglected elderly and matted Shih Tzus given ten-year animal ban

Lucy on her arrival to the vets
-Credit: (Image: RSPCA)


A woman from County Durham who failed to get appropriate care for her matted Shih Tzus has been banned from keeping dogs for ten years.

Ashleigh Kelly, 39, of Glencoe Avenue in Chester-le-Street, repeatedly ignored warnings and advice from the RSPCA about the condition of the elderly dogs. The dogs were removed from her home by the police just before Christmas last year after Kelly had said she would take them to a vet but failed to do so.

Dogs Alfie and Lucy, who were 16 and had previously belonged to another family member, had matted coats and overgrown claws. The female dog was unsteady on her feet, unable to walk very far and given a body condition score of one out of nine The male dog’s movement was hampered because of his severely knotted coat.

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Lucy on her arrival to the vets
Lucy on her arrival to the vets -Credit:RSPCA

Because of her condition, Lucy was sadly put to sleep on the advice of the vet, which was verbally agreed and signed in writing by the police officer who had been involved in removing her from the property.

At a sentencing hearing at Peterlee Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, September 3, Kelly was disqualified from keeping animals for ten years and given a three year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to one charge of failing to meet the dogs’ needs.

The court was told that RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor had visited the house on December 11, 2023 following previous visits by her colleagues who had issued Kelly with warnings to seek veterinary care and get the dogs groomed.

In her written statement Inspector Proctor said: “Ashleigh brought the dogs into the living room from the kitchen to show me. She stated that she had cut their fur herself but still needed to do their paws. My immediate concern was regarding the dog’s weights.

"Alfie was thin with matted ears and feet but Lucy’s condition was terrible. She was extremely thin to the point she didn’t appear to have any visible fat anywhere, her spine protruded through her fur and her pelvis bones were sticking out. She appeared weak on her legs and wouldn’t walk far before wobbling and sitting down.

“I wanted to give Ashleigh another chance, given that she explained the dogs were sentimental to her. At the same time, I could not walk away without ensuring that Lucy would see a vet as soon as possible. I offered to take her to the vet on Ashleigh’s behalf but this was refused.

"She told me that she would take her to the vet within the week but I told her to take Lucy within 24 hours - either that same day or first thing in the morning if need be. We discussed euthanasia and doing the right thing by Lucy if the vet agreed that it was needed and Ashleigh assured me that she would take her to the vets. We also discussed the matting on the dogs which was thick down the legs and knotted around the ears. Again, I was assured that this would be resolved.”

A warning notice was also given to Kelly on that visit, and despite agreeing that she would take action, a check with the veterinary practice she said she was going to use confirmed that neither dog had been seen.

Lucy's matted tail
Lucy's matted tail -Credit:RSPCA

The dogs were eventually seized on December 16, 2023, and immediately taken to a vet. Lucy was found to have severe muscle wastage and extensive matting around her face and on her body and paws. She was markedly wobbly and weak on all four legs and weighed 5kg (11.02 pounds). She also had overgrown nails, dental disease, poor vision, a grade four heart murmur and prominent ribs, spine and pelvic bones.

Alfie’s movement was described as ‘stilted’ and ‘slow’ due to the severity of the matted fur over his face, neck, legs, feet and tail, some of which was stained with urine and faeces. Alfie was given a body condition score of three out of nine.

Alfie the Shih Tzu, whose movement was described as ‘stilted’ and ‘slow’ due to the severity of the matted fur
Alfie the Shih Tzu, whose movement was described as ‘stilted’ and ‘slow’ due to the severity of the matted fur -Credit:RSPCA

In an interview with the RSPCA, Kelly said she thought Alfie’s condition was ‘fine’ and she didn’t believe that either dog was suffering. She was shown a video of one of Lucy's overgrown nails which had curled round into a spiral and then snapped because of her matted fur. Kelly said she was ‘well aware’ of this but the dog wouldn't let her cut her claws.

In mitigation the court was told she had no money and was ‘genuinely sorry’ about what had happened to the dogs. Speaking after the case Inspector Proctor said: “Ashleigh Kelly was given ample opportunity to do the right thing by Alfie and Lucy but she repeatedly refused to heed advice, act on the warnings she’d been given or follow through on the actions she said she was going to take.

In addition to the ten year ban, Kelly was also fined £200 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26.

Alfie is now in a foster home where he’s likely to remain, "be thoroughly spoiled and loved for however long he may have left"
Alfie is now in a foster home where he’s likely to remain, "be thoroughly spoiled and loved for however long he may have left" -Credit:RSPCA

“These were elderly dogs who were especially vulnerable because of their age, but they were badly let down by the person whose responsibility it was to care for them and put their welfare first. The team at the vets did a fantastic job, carefully removing Alfie’s matted fur for two hours. He’s doing well in a wonderful foster home, where he’s likely to remain, enjoying the company of other dogs and being thoroughly spoiled and loved for however long he may have left.”

The vet added: “This little dog tolerated an extensive dematting over the course of a couple of hours to remove all the matted, overgrown and soiled fur – this was done while Alfie was conscious with regular breaks to ensure his comfort.

“I believe Alfie was suffering and this could have been reasonably avoided by providing adequate food and meeting his grooming needs, including cleaning/cleansing any furred area that was becoming soiled. I suspect this dog had been suffering for many months due to discomfort from matted and soiled fur and hunger.”