A man and woman who caused unnecessary suffering of an animal in their care were given a five-year ban from keeping animals..
Anya Shears, 23, and Tyler Thornton, 25, both of Carleton Hall Walk in Penrith, caused the unnecessary suffering of a dog at their property.
Pleading guilty to the crime at Carlisle Magistrates Court on December 31, 2024, the pair are now not allowed to keep animals for five years as a consequence of their actions.
On 24 June 2024, police officers attended Shears’ property and noticed a large dog in the living room.
Officers noted that there was bare flooring, a dirty dog’s bed with no stuffing and dog faeces all over the floor.
They suspected the dog was being neglected and reattended the address on the following day.
Upon arrival at the address Shears and Thornton were arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog under section four of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
A search of the property located a large, emaciated dog inside the property living in just one room with no furniture, carpets or proper food.
It was clear Shears and Thornton were living upstairs in the property and were not providing sufficient care for the animal, police said.
The dog was taken to a kennels where he was examined by a vet who found it to be in very poor condition and severely underweight, almost to the point of anorexic, with overgrown nails and matted, patchy fur – it was euthanised in July 2024.
Shears and Thornton were given an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for twelve months, alongside the five-year- ban and were also sentenced for a possession of cannabis offence.
PC Stewart Green of the Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This was an awful and shocking case of animal neglect.
“Shears and Thornton failed a dog in their care, leaving him unsocialised, unexercised, hungry and dirty.
“I hope this goes to show just how seriously we take cases of animal cruelty and neglect, and we will always strive to bring offenders before the courts.”