A woman who failed to seek help for a dog which was at death’s door during the final days of her life has appeared in court
Carlisle Crown Court heard today how poorly Zeena, a female adult bull breed-type animal, had been left in the care of Abbi Louise Simmons, 31, at her former Lightfoot Drive home in the city.
But over five days, in early 2023, Simmons failed to address the reasons for her desperately grave bodily condition and weight; and neglected to secure the necessary veterinary care and attention for the pet’s weak and collapsed state.
Zeena starved to death and weighed just under 20kg — an estimated two-thirds to a half of what would have been her anticipated weight.
Simmons admitted two charges brought by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act with a judge agreeing — after hearing evidence — with her insistence that the dog had been in her possession for just five days.
The court heard Zeena was unable to either stand or swallow during the final days of her life. There was muscle tone loss and pooled blood was seen within an outbuilding where she had been housed.
“She was at death’s door,” the sentencing judge, Recorder Julian Shaw observed of a very sad case. “She was beyond saving.”
Recorder Shaw concluded Simmons was not the cause of the dog being in that terrible state, but said she had failed to take the steps over the five days which would have been taken by any right-minded person.
The judge also heard mum-of-two Simmons, now based in the south of England, had been hounded out of Carlisle since the incident.
Simmons was made subject to an 18-month community order, and told to complete rehabilitation work with the probation service and 100 hours’ community service.
In addition, she was banned from owning or keeping any dog for 10 years.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Chris Towler said: “It is without doubt that Zeena suffered immensely at the end of her life. No dog in the care of us should be in a position to get into the condition that she did.”
