Yorkshire woman banned from keeping animals for life after her dog had to be put down

RSPCA inspectors visited the home of Claire Beaumont, in Hunter Hill Road, Halifax, on a number of occasions after concerns were raised over Beau, her Lhasa Apso type dog. His coat was heavily matted and flea-infested and he was suffering from alopecia and conjunctivitis.

His skin and limbs were so red and inflamed that on one visit, an RSPCA inspector saw him licking and biting at himself constantly. Beaumont was advised to take him to a vets for treatment, but failed to do so.

She appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court on August 23, where she admitted causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The court was told inspectors visited her home between August and October 2021. Despite claiming she had Beau registered at a vets, there was no evidence to back up her claim. She eventually agreed to allow RSPCA Inspector Kris Walker to take him to a vets.

His hair and nails were trimmed and he was treated with anti-parasites, eye drops, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. However, a later examination of Beau’s mouth revealed a separate issue with a tumour that had spread through his jawbone, so it was decided the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep to end his suffering.

RSPCA inspector Natalie Taylor said in her witness statement that when she visited Beaumont’s home on April 29 last year following a report, the defendant claimed Beau “had died two weeks ago and that he was buried in the back garden”. But later that day, Beaumont told another inspector he was alive.

Mr Walker said: “Beau was matted and he had fleas, conjunctivitis and appeared to have a mouth issue. He was licking and biting himself continuously and his skin was hot to the touch.”

A vet who examined the dog said: “The front of Beau’s chest was completely alopecic. He had numerous patches of alopecia over his dorsum and the majority of his skin across his trunk and limbs was reddened and inflamed.”

He concluded the dog would have been suffering for “at least some days and weeks” before he examined him. In mitigation, Beaumont said she was remorseful and that at the time she “had had a lot going on”.

Magistrates at the court hearing ordered Beaumont to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and undertake 10 rehabilitation activity days as part of a 12-month community order. She also has to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and court costs of £600.

After the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Kris Walker said: “We gave the defendant advice and she had multiple chances to take her dog to see a vet. She wasn’t frank with us and claimed she had done this when she hadn’t. In the meantime, Beau was left in a dreadful state, matted and suffering from sore skin, alopecia and eye issues.

“He was signed over into our care, but sadly a tumour was found in his jawbone and the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep to end his suffering.”