An ‘remoted’ and ‘lonely’ lady who crammed 191 canines into pens and crates in squalid and overcrowded situations in Devon has been jailed for greater than two years.
Diana Curtis, 66, left the harmless animals scrapping for meals and water and precipitated them pointless struggling in a distant area close to Chittlehamholt and in kennels close to Chulmleigh Cross, Exeter Crown Court docket heard.
She moved the animals between premises in North Devon in an try to keep away from detection. However when RSPCA inspectors uncovered scene of chaos, they discovered dozens of canines residing in dust beneath tarpaulin sheets behind fencing and behind a lorry.
Most of the mud-covered animals had been tightly packed in pens, crates and partly-built stables, competing for meagre provides of meals and water. Two of the canines needed to be put down by vets.
Curtis, described as ‘remoted and lonely’, stated she liked the animals however grew to become ‘overwhelmed’ by the sheer quantity.
A decide stated she had put her personal egocentric emotions above the welfare of her animals and jailed her for 25 months and banned her from preserving animals indefinitely.
Dozens of canines had been stored in squalid situations by Diana Curtis, 66
Most of the mud-covered animals had been tightly packed in pens, crates and partly-built stables
The animals had been compelled to compete for meals and water within the stunning situations in Devon
Prosecutor Hazel Stevens stated Curtis was well-known to the RSPCA and the native council resulting from earlier complaints about noisy canines and neglect of horses. In 2022 quite a lot of animals had been seized from her property in Petrockstowe in Torridge.
She then ‘vanished’ from the property taking her remaining animals along with her, stated the prosecutor. In March 2023, a landowner reported animals at Chittlehamholt. There was no operating water or electrical energy on the distant location.
‘Numerous canines had been crammed right into a lorry parked on the location,’ stated Miss Stevens. ‘Canines had been actually on prime of one another in that automobile.
‘Different canines had been in some type of pen. The prosecution say the canines had been there to keep away from detection. There have been canines and puppies in crates.’ Curtis had deliberate to constructed some stables as lodging however the work was not completed.
‘Relatively disturbingly when some water was put in for the canines they actually stood on prime of one another,’ stated Miss Stevens.
Different canines had been left with a bucket of water. Vets assessed each animal. Six nursing bitches and 19 puppies had been present in crates close to one of many pens with no constant entry to water. A complete of 92 canines had been discovered behind the lorry.
A canine with a deformed jaw needed to be put to sleep. A tan collie with an ulcer was additionally euthanised. There have been so many animals that they fought one another for meals. Numerous animals had accidents, together with scars and ears lacking brought on by preventing. Some had been emaciated, others had contaminated wounds.
Miss Stevens stated Curtis’ actions amounted to repeated acts of neglect, ignoring earlier warnings and recommendation. She has related earlier convictions and a disqualification for preserving animals.
She moved the animals between premises in North Devon in an try to keep away from detection
Choose James Adkin stated: ‘The photographs present a lot of them in a very pitiful situation.’
Curtis shall be banned for preserving any extra animals and can’t apply for the restriction to be lifted for at the very least 10 years
Curtis admitted six expenses of inflicting pointless struggling
Nigel Wraith, defending, stated Curtis had been making an attempt to maneuver the animals when the lorry obtained caught within the mud. Her intention was to offer them with meals and shelter however issues had obtained out of hand. There was no proof of her intentionally harming the animals and she or he was very sorry for the state of affairs.
She lived a lonely life, had well being issues and liked her canines. She had paid for work to be finished at Chittlehamholt nevertheless it had not been completed in time for the transfer. Curtis admitted six expenses of inflicting pointless struggling.
Choose James Adkin stated: ‘The photographs present a lot of them in a very pitiful situation. You confirmed a deliberate disregard for the welfare of the animals and a failure to hunt therapy. A really excessive degree of struggling was precipitated to the animals.
‘It appears to me you probably did love them for the consolation they offered for you. However you had been egocentric and had too many. You set your self and your personal emotions earlier than the animals inflicting them appreciable struggling.’
He stated Curtis can be banned for preserving any extra animals and can’t apply for the restriction to be lifted for at the very least 10 years.
