Dudley woman banned from keeping animals after RPSCA case

Stephanie Sinclaire, aged 59, of Stour Hill, was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

Sinclaire, who admitted four animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA, was also ordered to carry out 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and pay £400 costs as punishment for the offences that occurred between September 4 and October 4 2023.

Cats found in a crate at the Stour Hill property (Image: RSPCA)

Animal rescuers from the charity found eight cats and five dogs inside her home in an unsanitary environment full of hazards and surrounded by faeces and urine.

Cats found in a crate at the Stour Hill property (Image: RSPCA)

There was no clean water source available and no comfortable bedding for resting. Some were found in small crates with no litter trays or heavily soiled litter trays and all had urine and faecal soiling to their coats.

Disgusting conditions were found at the property in Stour Hill (Image: RSPCA)

The dogs were found to be suffering with a variety of health conditions including fleas, skin lesions, dental disease and eye discharge. Four of the five dogs and all eight of the cats were underweight because of a lack of food.

The vet who examined the animals would have suffered unnecessarily for weeks due to poor body condition and the associated feelings of weakness and hunger.

The animals were found kept in crates at the property in Brierley Hill (Image: RSPCA)

Two dogs, Sykes, a black male Cockapoo type dog, and Ozzy, a black male Labrador, had lesions on their skin due to pressure from inappropriate housing and prolonged contact with urine and faeces causing scalding to the skin.

The RSPCA said the vet who examined the dogs confirmed Ozzy would have suffered unnecessarily for a number of weeks due to pain associated with severe spondylosis - a painful condition of the spine resulting from degeneration of the intervertebral discs - affecting multiple regions of his spine.

As a result of the spinal issues he developed painful urine scald and pressure sores affecting his limbs.

The dogs were found with lesions on their skin (Image: RSPCA)

In a report, the vet said: “This unnecessary suffering could have been avoided by seeking veterinary treatment, including pain relief and by providing an appropriate environment that would have prevented Ozzy from lying in his own urine and faeces.”

Sadly, Ozzy had to be put to sleep by vets because of the severity of his condition - the RSPCA has revealed.

Shocking scenes found by RSPCA inspectors when they visited the property (Image: RSPCA)

The other animals, who have been in the care of the RSPCA since their rescue, can now be found loving new homes after Sinclaire was also deprived of ownership of her pets when she was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on April 22.

RSPCA inspector Ben Jones said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need.

“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.”

Anyone concerned about animal cruelty can find out more about how to report it on the RSPCA's website rspca.org.uk