Carrie Hansford, a 43-year-old woman, allowed her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rocky, to starve to death in her filthy house. A dog warden discovered Rocky’s emaciated remains surrounded by piles of garbage and his own waste after breaking into Hansford’s home with a warrant.
Animal handler Mark Knight described the scene as distressing, stating that Rocky had been left in his own excrement for months. The vet for six years and an animal welfare officer characterized the case as one of the worst he had encountered in a decade.
Hansford was sentenced to a four-month prison term suspended for 12 months, a five-year ban from owning animals, and 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The RSPCA criticized Hansford’s actions, highlighting Rocky’s reliance on his owner for survival and the unimaginable suffering he endured due to her neglect. The organization emphasized the legal obligation of pet owners to provide adequate care, including food, water, and a suitable living environment.
