Animal cruelty convictions fall to lowest in years
Reporter THE number of people being found guilty of animal cruelty in the North East has dropped to its lowest number in six years.
As the government announces plans for tougher sentences for people who commit the most heinous acts of cruelty to animals, exclusive figures show the numbers of offenders being convicted in the Northumbria and Durham police force areas is falling.
In 2015/16, there were 29 people who were convicted of offences under the Animal Welfare Act in Northumbria, down 12% from the 33 people who were convicted in 2014/15. In Durham, numbers dropped from 35 to 27.
The numbers are down from peaks of 53 people convicted in 2012/13 in Northumbria and 52 people convicted in both 2010/11 and 2011/12 in Durham, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Justice following a Freedom of Information request.
Most of the convictions relate to offences under Section 4 of the Act, which covers causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, with 23 people in Northumbria and 17 in Durham convicted in 2015/16.
Three people in Northumbria and six in Durham were convicted under Section 9 for failing to ensure an animal’s welfare, such as by providing a suitable environment and diet.
Three people in Northumbria and four in Durham were convicted of failing to comply with orders disqualifying them from owning animals.
Amongst those figures was despicable Karen Snowdon who was hauled before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court after she decided to muzzle her pet Jack Russell Button instead of treating his chronic skin condition.
With bleeding patches and barely any fur, poor Button suffered from a severe form of mange, which left him in pain and desperately in need of care.
But, instead of getting the eight-yearold pooch urgently-needed medical attention, Snowdon took matters into her own hands and the 53-year-old muzzled Button in an attempt to get him to stop biting his itching skin and the mites that were burrowing into it.
Over a period of up to two months, the dog suffered until his appearance caused a worried member of public to contact the RSPCA. But last year mum Snowdon, of Brampton Avenue, Walker, pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. She was fined £170 and banned her from keeping dogs for 10 years.
Also Nicola and Gavin Pearce were banned from keeping animals for five years after their ill dog had to be put down.
They appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court after their 14-year-old Springer Spaniel called Bracken was found to be under weight, suffering from an eye infection, urinary incontinence and a chronic skin condition.
The dog was taken to a vet by the RSPCA and had to be put down.
Pearce, 44, of, Killingworth, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal, while her husband, 47, of the same address, admitted failing to meet the needs of the dog.
Across England and Wales, there were 873 people in 2015/16 who were convicted of offences under the Animal Welfare Act, down 18% from the 1,064 people who were convicted in 2014/15.
The numbers are down from a peak of 1,448 people convicted in 2011/12.