Woman spared jail for neglecting cats, leaving one dead

A WOMAN has been told she could easily have gone to prison after neglecting her cats, which left one dead.

RSPCA staff were alerted to the plight of the animals after the body of one was found outside a flat in Lichfield Close, off Beverley Road in west Hull.

An inspector arranged to visit Amber Irvine's home in February after the dead cat was discovered.

The inspector found her three other cats, Alfie, Sissy and Smokey, to be very thin.

Irvine, 20, told the RSPCA she had been away from her flat for most of November and December, although she claimed she had put food and water down for the animals. However, she then admitted she did not attend every day and sometimes left the animals to fend for themselves for up to two days.

At Hull Magistrates' Court yesterday, Irvine's solicitor Amelia Woollen said she had left the property to stay with a friend but could not take the cats.

Ms Woollen told the court Irvine had bad memories of her flat and tried to forget about her time there.

District Judge Frederick Rutherford said: "These animals suffered in such a way, you could easily have faced imprisonment.

"But you seem to have had genuine affection for the animals and are remorseful.

"I can understand you didn't want to return to the house, which held bad memories for you, but there were cats still there who really suffered."

Irvine was given an 18-month supervision order and banned from keeping cats for ten years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to take reasonable steps to meet the needs of an animal.

New owners have since been found for the surviving cats.

Afterwards, a spokesman for the RSPCA said: "The RSPCA's aim is to protect animal welfare and it was feared that one of the cats in this matter could continue to suffer if he remained with the defendant.

"It is a legal requirement for a cat's owner to provide their animal with a proper diet and provide them with proper veterinary attention when required.

"Sadly, in this instance that did not happen, but we now hope the three surviving cats will now enjoy a happy and healthy life from now on."

In another case heard at the court, Keith and Angela Fordon were given suspended prison sentences for keeping their two dogs in squalid conditions.

RSPCA inspectors visited their home in Blaycourt, north Hull, after Hull City Council animal wardens raised concerns.

The inspectors found the conditions in which the pair's dogs were being kept were not acceptable.

They were found living in the dark and being forced to eat cat faeces.

They were charged in relation to the poor conditions the dogs were kept in, as well as the failure to seek veterinary treatment for an eye problem suffered by one of their dogs called Keisha.

Judge Rutherford said: "Some people take animals in then just seem to completely abandon them.

"There is no way these people cared for the animals.

"When found, these dogs were searching round for cat faeces to eat.

"This is completely and utterly unbelievable. It is a wonder these dogs didn't die."

Both were given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. They have both been banned from keeping animals for 20 years.

Additionally, Keith Fordon, 48, was ordered to carry out 120 hours community service and pay £250 costs.

Angela Fordon, 45, was given a 12-month supervision order and told to pay £250 costs.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We are pleased that the court took this matter so seriously.

"Hopefully, this case sends out the message that it is not only important, but also a legal requirement, to give your animals the proper care and attention they require."