Decade ban on owning animals after dogs found in atrocious state

AMOTHER from Runcorn and her two sons have been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after letting their dogs starve so badly one had to be put down.

The RSPCA said the two dogs, Staffordshire terrier-type breeds Bruno and Roxy, were so thin that their ribs were clearly visible and were living in ‘atrocious’ conditions.

Bruno was put to sleep on health grounds despite the charity’s efforts to save him, and Roxy has been rehomed.

Michelle Baldwin, 40, Shaun Baldwin, 21, and Shane Baldwin, 19, all of Masseyfield Road, Brookvale, appeared at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday last week to be sentenced.

They had each pleaded guilty in May to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs and one of failing to provide a suitable environment at an earlier hearing.

As well as the 10-year ban on keeping any animals, Michelle Baldwin was slapped with an eight-week prison sentence suspended for six months and Shaun and Shane were both given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

All three were told to pay costs of £100 and an £85 victim surcharge each.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the court heard that the dogs were discovered by the police on November 17 last year when they were carrying out a search at their address in Masseyfield Road on an unrelated matter.

Officers contacted the RSPCA, which led to inspector Lisa Lupson attending the property.

She said: “Both dogs were very thin, particularly Bruno.

“He was so weak that as soon as I got him to a vet he was put on a drip.

“He was very lethargic and subdued, and wasn’t responding to us at all.

“As well as being underfed, the dogs were living in horrific conditions.

“Upstairs of the house was atrocious, there was rubbish absolutely everywhere and dog poo all over the floor.

“It was in no way the best environment for dogs to live in.

“The message is clear – if you decide to take animals on then you must be able to meet their needs and provide them with the kind of life they deserve.”

Court papers said Michelle Baldwin had entrusted the care of the dogs to two young adults without taking responsibility for them herself. ● Michelle Baldwin, 40, Shaun Baldwin, 21, and Shane Baldwin, 19, have been disqualified from keeping animals