Mitcham woman left puppy with severe burns for days before going to vet

A nine-week-old dog Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19 last year suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body and the painful injuries, sustained in an incident at the defendant’s former address at Budge Lane in Mitcham
-Credit: (Image: RSPCA)


A nine-week-old Frech Bulldog was left with severe burns all over her body for days before its owner took it to a vet. The puppy - named Cleo - had severe burn marks across her back legs as well as to her groin and stomach areas.

Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19, 2023, by her owner Natasha Benjafield who was from Mitcham. The dog was suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body which Benjafield claims happened because Cleo had fallen into a bucket of boiling water and bleach.

Benjafield said she attempted to nurse the wounds by putting the dog under a running tap and applying Savlon cream.

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A nine-week-old dog Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19 last year suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body and the painful injuries, sustained in an incident at the defendant’s former address at Budge Lane in Mitcham
Cleo had severe burn marks across her back legs as well as to her groin and stomach areas -Credit:RSPCA

Cleo was transferred to a PDSA Hospital in London the next day as the vet had serious concerns for Cleo’s health. When she was brought in, Cleo was hyperthermic and unable to keep her food down. She was treated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and strong pain relief and then underwent 24-hour care at the hospital in Greater London.

Over the following week, Cleo’s wounds were managed and her condition improved, although the vet said she would have suffered “considerable pain” as the burns were inflicted at least 24 hours before she was presented to the out-of-hours clinic with the time frame believed to be between two or three days before.

Afetr an investigation, Bejafield pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on September 13.

A nine-week-old dog Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19 last year suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body and the painful injuries, sustained in an incident at the defendant’s former address at Budge Lane in Mitcham
Cleo's owner said she had fallen into a bucket of boiling water and bleach -Credit:RSPCA

A vet commissioned by the RSPCA to examine the case said that Benjafield's claims were not consistent with the pattern of scalding to the dog’s body. They said: "It is difficult to accept how this puppy could have jumped into a mop bucket of very hot water without sustaining any scald injuries to her neck, chest and front legs which raises the suspicion of non-accidental injury.

"The sites of scalding are more indicative of the dog’s entire body being out of the water with only the back legs and rear portion of her abdomen in contact with the hot water. But in my opinion from the information provided it cannot be concluded for sure that she was intentionally injured."

The vet did acknowledge that Benjafield tried to register Cleo with the PDSA on September 17 and although she could not, Benjafield did not attempt to try and get help from any vets in the area. In mitigation, it was said the magistrates accepted Benjafield’s actions were not deliberate and that she had been guilty of a 'momentary lapse of judgement' during a time when she was pregnant.

A nine-week-old dog Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19 last year suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body and the painful injuries, sustained in an incident at the defendant’s former address at Budge Lane in Mitcham
Cleo has since recovered (pictured) and is now rehomed with a new family -Credit:RSPCA
A nine-week-old dog Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19 last year suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body and the painful injuries, sustained in an incident at the defendant’s former address at Budge Lane in Mitcham
Cleo was taken to an out-of-hours vet clinic on the evening of September 19, 2023, suffering from thermal and chemical burns to the lower part of her body -Credit:RSPCA

Benjafield was placed on a six-week community order which requires her to observe a curfew at her home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am daily. She was also made to pay costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £114. Cleo has since made a good recovery and has managed to be rehomed to new owners.

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