4 PAWS OWNER ACCUSED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN COURT
THREE PEOPLE FACE 51 CHARGES
THE owner of the controversial 4 Paws pet centre was in court yesterday as she and her husband face animal cruelty charges in a case brought by the RSPCA.
Jodie Fairbrother and her husband Paul arrived at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court yesterday from their new home in northern Cyprus. A teenager, who cannot be identified, was also with them.
In a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, the three face 51 charges, including 39 of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals. The animals are pet cats and dogs which were being held at the 4 Paws centre. Each faces the same 17 charges which related to pet cats and dogs which were held at the 4 Paws centre in South Killingholme. Yesterday, the Fairbrothers and the teenager were present at the magistrates’ court but were not called into court. After being advised, the case was adjourned to a date in December.
The three were provided with an escort from three Humberside Police officers to and from the neighbouring police station in Victoria Street.
The 4 Paws centre was subject to a massive RSPCA raid earlier this year. RSPCA inspectors, along with police and the Dogs Trust charity, removed 160 dogs and cats from the centre, which was later closed down. The allegations being faced by the three include failing to provide veterinary care to a number of cats and dogs. It includes animals which allegedly suffered from infected wounds, dental disease and serious viral disease.
Charges seen by the Grimsby Telegraph also reveal one dog, one of 160 animals seized in the raid, allegedly exhibited “mental suffering”.
They face another four charges of failing to meet the basic needs of the animals that were in their care, including water. Alleged breaches also include failing to establish an effective disease control programme and failing to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
The RSPCA executed a warrant at 4 Paws supported by Humberside Police on March 22.
Their “intelligence-led” operation, believed to be the largest carried out by the RSCPA, saw every animal at the centre taken into care.
After the raid, centre owner Mrs Fairbrother was seen in tears as animal welfare inspectors carried away the animals.
A total of 160 cats and dogs were taken into RSPCA care, leaving owners facing an anguishing wait for their return.
Mrs Fairbrother ran the centre as a kennels and cattery but also had what she described as a charitable business in which she imported stray dogs from eastern Europe, primarily Romania. Those animals would be driven across Europe to South Killingholme and then sold to animal lovers, largely in North and North East Lincolnshire.