West Yorkshire woman who told RSPCA she had "run out of shampoo" to treat dog banned

A West Yorkshire woman who told RSPCA inspectors she had "run out of shampoo" to treat her dog has been banned from keeping animals after it was found with scabby skin.

Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.

RSPCA Inspector Kris Walker called at her house in Wakefield in May and discovered 12-year-old Charlie was kept with five other dogs in a messy garden.

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He raised concerns that Charlie appeared to have fur loss from her middle downwards and her skin appeared reddened and sore.

Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.
Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.

Fletcher told the inspector that she had "run out of shampoo to treat it" and that she was registered at a local vet.

Inspector Walker issue a warning notice, asked her to clean up the garden and take Charlie to the vets.

But more than three weeks later, he contacted the local clinic she claimed to use and was told they had no dog of that name from that address registered with them.

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He tried another local vet who also didn’t have Charlie’s records.

Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.
Marie Fletcher was found to have left her Staffordshire bull terrier, named Charlie, with a "chronic, untreated skin condition" and taken to court by the charity.

Despite 15 separate attempts, Inspector Walker was unable to arrange an interview with Fletcher.

And when she finally answered the door, Inspector Walker said she was "abrasive" and "yelled in his face" that Charlie had been to the vets.

He added: "But she was clearly balding, reddened and very itchy so she gave me permission to take her to see a vet.”

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Vets determined that Charlie was suffering from a chronic, untreated skin condition and police seized the poorly pooch and placed her into the care of the RSPCA.

Inspector Walker added: “Vets found her skin was scurfy and thickened, and she had a large patch of alopecia. It smelt very yeasty and Charlie was extremely itchy.

"They prescribed some medication and a follow-up appointment one month later showed that her skin and fur were both looking really healthy, and she’d even put on some weight.”

Kirklees Magistrates’ Court found Fletcher guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal in her absence on Wednesday (Dec 2).

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She was sentenced to a three-year disqualification order keeping all animals and ordered to pay £150 in costs.

Inspector Walker said: “As Ms Fletcher refused to cooperate with our investigation or sign Charlie over into our care we felt it was necessary to take the case to court in order to seek a disqualification order to ensure Charlie would not return to the home and to prevent any further neglect of her or the other dogs.”

There were no welfare concerns for her five other dogs - all French bulldogs - but two were signed over into the RSPCA’s care as Fletcher admitted struggling to cope.

She claims the remaining dogs have all been re-homed.

Charlie was taken to RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and District branch where she spent some time recovering.

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Although her skin recovered well, her fur never grew back fully. She enjoyed spending time with staff and regularly spent her days in the office.

Charlie went into foster care and settled in straight away. Her carers fell in love with her and decided to adopt her.

They say she loves going for long walks, visiting the seaside and has "really come out of her shell".

ENDS