A family from Bristol have been handed fines and banned from keeping animals for ten years after neglecting the needs of their dogs. Concerns over the dogs' wellbeing and living conditions were raised in March 2020 whereby one visit to the home in Bristol found the floors covered in urine and faeces.
Jackie Lillian Steadman, 73, her daughter Ann Steadman, 47, and grandson Malang Steadman, 21, of Throgmorton Road, Knowle, were each sentenced at Bristol Magistrates' Court on July 27. The RSPCA became involved in the case when Inspector Kimily Walters was called to the address to see five dogs - Staffy cross Babe, Rottweiler Thunder, two German Shepherd crosses called Joey and Rosie, and Dora, a Staffy cross.
Inspector Walters asked the family to clean the house and issued a warning notice. She also provided a voucher for Dora to be taken to a vet within 24 hours for treatment for a skin condition. This was followed up and Inspector Walters was told that the home had been cleaned.
Read more: Police continue murder investigation at Bristol pub
However, when she later returned to the address, Inspector Walters remained concerned about Dora’s skin and she was signed over into RSPCA care for treatment. Inspector Walters was refused access when she arrived at the Steadman home again to check on the other dogs.
In her witness statement, Inspector Walters said: “[She] agreed to show me ‘Babe’ outside and I noted her skin had improved. I advised that there was still a strong smell of ammonia coming from inside the house and flies. I reiterated that the dogs must have a clean environment to live.”
The court heard how Inspector Walters spoke to a local housing officer to raise her concerns. She returned to the Bristol address with a police officer in November 2021 following new reports about the dogs.
She said: “When I went through the front door into the hallway area there was an overpowering smell of ammonia and faeces. The ammonia smell made my eyes water, the floor was wet and sticky which appeared to be covered in a mixture of trampled urine and faeces. The hallway was cluttered and the house was dark with very little ventilation.”
She issued another warning notice for the dogs’ living conditions and returned in December - again with police - to follow up but found little improvement. Police seized the dogs and they were placed in RSPCA care and seen by a vet.
A vet who treated the dogs found Thunder to have “a large facial swelling, excessive drooling and foul breath” and administered pain relief and antibiotics. Further tests found the mass was likely to be cancerous and was impacting his eating and quality of life so vets decided the kindest option for him was to put him to sleep to prevent further suffering.
The vet also found Joey to be suffering from a “4cm by 1.5cm circular soft mass” that was ulcerated and administered antibiotics and pain relief.
Ann Steadman pleaded guilty to three offences on June 13 and the three offences were all proved in absence against Jackie and Malang Steadman on 4 April. The court heard that they would have entered guilty pleas. In mitigation, the court heard that it was not a deliberate case of cruelty. But the court was also told that the RSPCA had been involved and had concerns for a long time and that the animals were all severely neglected.
Ann Steadman was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £300 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. Jackie and Malang were each ordered to pay a £180 fine, £300 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. All three were also disqualified from keeping all animals for ten years.
Up next:
