Eight dogs left in back of filthy van as one needs eye removed
Two people have been sentenced in court
Two people have been banned from keeping dogs for eight years each after leaving eight dogs in disgusting living conditions in the back of a van. | Photo: RSPCA
Two people have been prosecuted after gross negligence of eight dogs which resulted in one French bulldog needing its eye removed due to filthy conditions.
Bryan and Georgina Riley were subjects of an RSPCA investigation after the animal welfare charity followed up an earlier visit to their home at Gringley-on-the-Hill – around six miles from Gainsborough – in November last year.
The pair were asked to comply with an assessment notice following the previous RSPCA visit, and when inspector Daniel Bradshaw returned with a police officer the couple drove off in a transit van after they were asked to open up the back of the vehicle.
The dogs were all clearly badly affected. | Photo: RSPCA
They were later apprehended and eight dogs were removed from the back of the van, with their conditions assessed at Harworth Police Station – and the results were shocking.
The eight dogs were left in the back of a stinking, faeces-strewn van, and among them was a four-year-old French bulldog called Lola, whose eyeball was so badly infected it was damaged beyond repair.
The conditions of the van were appalling. | Photo: RSPCA
Three of the other dogs suffered from severe skin conditions as a result of the disgusting state they were left in by Bryan and Georgina.
Another French bulldog called Hugo, had thinning fur and scabs on his coat, as well as a weeping sore, while a dachshund called Iggy suffered from extensive hairloss and scabs to the coat.
Liberty the French bulldog had open sores on her face and her collar was attached so tightly that her neck was reddened.
Breaks your heart to see. | Photo: RSPCA
Two poodles, mother and daughter by the name of Angel and Coco, had dirty matted coats. Lady the dachshund, had thinning fur and poodle Rosie’s coat was matted with faeces and urine.
All the dogs were taken to the vets but the worst affected was Lola, whose prolapsed eye was so badly swollen that the only course of action was to remove it.
Most of the dogs were in various states of malnutrition and their bodies were covered in scabs from a flea infestation.
Thankfully they have all been rehomed by the RSPCA. | Photo: RSPCA
Bryan Riley, 75, and Georgina Riley, 70, both of High Street, Gringley-on-the-Hill, appeared at Doncaster Magistrates Court on Monday, June 13 for sentencing.
At an earlier hearing Bryan pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering; one of failing to provide veterinary care for three dogs who were suffering from skin disease and the other of failing to provide veterinary care for the injury to Lola’s eye. He also admitted a third offence of failing to ensure the needs of all eight dogs were met.
Georgina Riley pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure the needs of the eight dogs were met. They both were met with eight-year bans from keeping animals, while Bryan was fined £750 and ordered to pay combined costs and a victim surcharge of £475.
Georgina was also fined £250 and told to pay combined costs and a victim surcharge of £434. All the dogs were signed over to the RSPCA and have since been rehomed.
In mitigation, the court was told that the defendants suffer from physical ill health and were left with a number of dogs they had struggled to cope with, and were keeping them in the van because their property had become a target for burglars.
In his witness statement, RSPCA Inspector Daniel Bradshaw said: “Lola’s eyeball was hanging out and appeared to have a large scab that was oozing blood and pus and appeared to have faeces stuck to it. She had scabs and sores in her coat as well as a skin condition.”
The inspector said of the van: “There was such a strong smell of faeces, urine and ammonia that I struggled to put my head inside for more than two seconds.”
Speaking after the court hearing, Inspector Bradshaw said: “Lola’s eye was very infected and to leave a dog with her eye hanging out like that was unacceptable, as was leaving all the dogs in such a poor environment in the back of a van from which urine and faeces was just seeping out.”
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
An allegedly highly critical report about South Kesteven District Council will remain “secret” for another two months – taking it over a year since it was first received, a Freedom of Information Request has revealed.
The request, made by Phil Gadd on May 31, asked when the report – which was commissioned to review how decisions and scrutiny at the council worked – would be presented to the public.
The SKDC-commissioned review was carried out by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny which was by an independent auditor. The request also confirmed the review cost £5,520 to produce.
In his request, Mr Gadd said: “The people of SKDC were promised open, honest & transparent governance.
“However, months later we are still denied the opportunity to see the results.”
SKDC’s response said “the final report will be published over the next couple of months, together with an action plan.”
It promised the document would be published “in its entirety with no redactions”.
“Work has been taking place to consider the recommendations contained within the review and develop an action plan for implementing areas recommended for improvement,” the authority added.
The report, received on August 31, 2021, was previously questioned after nearly nine months of being hidden by Independent Councillors Ashley Baxter and Phil Dilks in April.
If the FOI is correct, it could take the length of time since the report was received to over a year.
At the time, Councillor Baxter said: “Taxpayers deserve openness and transparency.
“That’s why I wanted to share the secret report with the press and public but was warned not to by the council’s monitoring officer.”
He said the report made “some positive comments” but added it “also highlights massive gaps”.
It is understood Councillor Baxter is continuing with his enquries following the latest request.
SKDC was asked for additional comment but a spokesman said it had “nothing to add to this”.
Night-time closures of Spalding Road, followed by a full closure of Enterprise Way, will start in mid-July.
Below is a list of upcoming traffic management relating to the ongoing Spalding Western Relief Road construction works*:
A week of night-time road closures on Spalding Road will start on Monday 18 July (subject to weather). These will be in place from 7pm to 6am for up to six evenings.
The diversion route for the Spalding Road closure will be via Spalding Road / B1180 / A16 / A151 / West Elloe Avenue / B1356, and vice versa.
A six-week 24/7 closure of Enterprise Way will be in place starting Friday 29 July.
Diversion route – Enterprise Way.
The diversion route for the Enterprise Way closure will be via Enterprise Way / Benner Road / B1180 / Spalding Road, and vice versa
An alternative route will be via Enterprise Way / Benner Road / B1180 / A16 / A151 / West Elloe Avenue (A151) / Pinchbeck Road / Spalding Road, and vice versa.
Temporary traffic signals near the new roundabout’s north and south tie-ins will be in place from Monday 11 July until early September.
Narrowed lanes on Spalding Road will remain in place until mid-September 2022.
*Please note all dates and times are subject to weather.
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways, said: “As part of the ongoing construction of the northern section of Spalding’s new relief road, we will be implementing further traffic restrictions in the area so the team can get the new roundabout built.
“These closures and other traffic management measures will, no doubt, cause some disruption for the travelling public in and around Spalding and Pinchbeck – but we’ll be doing everything we can to keep this to minimum, including making sure there is clear diversion route signage out for drivers to follow during the road closures.”
“And Enterprise Way businesses concerned about how the closure will affect them are encouraged to contact Eurovia’s public liaison officer.”
Whatsapp
