Animal neglect pair could be facing jail

JON MACPHERSON

TWO friends who left cats and dogs in ‘horrendous’ conditions at their homes surrounded by faeces, urine and rubbish could face jail.

RSPCA and police raided the properties of Catherine Allsagar and Malcolm Ogden in Accrington after a ‘disturbing’ picture was sent to the authorities of a dead dog at Ogden’s home.

Officers executed a warrant at his house on Frederick Street and found it was ‘disgusting’ with ‘horrendous smells, rubbish, faeces and urine’, Blackburn Magistrates Court heard.

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting, said there was a ‘trail of faeces from the front door to Ogden’s car’ and that four dogs were found inside in an ‘awful state’.

The court heard that cat litter trays were filled with faeces which had ‘turned white’ and that dog faeces ‘inches high’ were strewn on the floor.

The dogs also had no access to water and the bathroom was ‘covered in faeces and smelled horrendous’.

Mr Wyatt said the RSPCA was later alerted by concerned Manchester Dog’s Home staff after five dead cats had been taken for cremation by Allsagar.

The court heard that the cats smelt of urine and had lesions on their paws, legs and belly.

Another of Allsagar’s cats had also been taken to a veterinary practice for treatment after it was ‘screaming in pain because there was something wrong with its joints’.

The RSPCA executed a warrant at Allsagar’s then home on Elizabeth Street on October 19 last year and found urine and faeces on the floor and a ‘strong smell of ammonia’.

Mr Wyatt said 10 cats and six dogs found inside with two of the dogs left in crates and another four dogs loose in the kitchen.

One of the dogs was drinking urine off the floor and numerous flystrips were found with dead flies, the court heard.

The court was told that one of the cats had puncture wounds and another had swelling to the right side of the jaw.

When Ogden was arrested and interviewed he admitted the dead dog on the picture was his and said that two of the four dogs living with him were Allsagar’s.

He said he also had to live in those conditions and was ‘trying to clean the house’.

Allsagar told officers that she had sent the picture of the dead dog and had taken one of her cats to the vets after it developed a high temperature.

Ogden, 58, of Frederick Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to ensure the needs of an animal.

Allsagar, 37, now of Richmond Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to ensure the needs of an animal and two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Magistrates adjourned sentence to Blackburn Magistrates Court on May 25 and warned that they could ‘not rule out custody’.