A Leicester woman whose family had had animals confiscated in the past refused to let the RSPCA help her dying dog and take it to a vet. Kimberley Watts, who had already been convicted of cruelty to a cat, was responsible for a dog called Suzy who was malnourished, and ultimately – after being seized by Leicestershire Police – had to be put down.
In February last year, the RSPCA went to Watts’s home in Wycombe Road, Humberstone, where she and her mother shared caring responsibilities for Suzy, a crossbreed. However, the inspector was refused entry to the property.
Prosecutor Kevin McCole told Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday (January 9) that the dog was shown to the inspector at the door, and appeared thin and lethargic. He said: “They refused to let the RSPCA inspector take the dog to a vet and the door was slammed shut.”
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Due to serious concerns about Suzy, the RSPCA inspector went back the next day with police officers and a warrant to enter the home. Again, the inspector was refused permission to take the dog, so the police used their powers to seize the animal.
After being handed to the RSPCA for care, Suzy’s condition deteriorated and she was put down in early March. Watts, with her solicitor, attended an interview under caution with the RSPCA inspector and said she had been struggling financially and had a drinking problem, magistrates were told.
The court heard that Watts, 35, who now lives at the Dawn Centre, in Conduit Street, Leicester city centre, had previously been convicted of cruelty to a cat – resulting in a two-year ban on keeping cats in 2018 – and that her family had also had a dog seized from them by the RSPCA in the past, which contributed to the decision to not hand Suzy over to officials.
Mr McCole said: “She admitted Suzy was very skinny and needed treatment, but said the dog wouldn’t go past the front gate. She admitted they should have gone to the vet earlier. She said she didn’t call the RSPCA because of the issues they had previously when they took their dog away.”
Watts and her mother were jointly charged with animal neglect, but her mother died a few months ago. Mr McCole asked the magistrates to consider banning Watts from having any animals in her care in the future.
Prakash Morar, representing Watts, said: “This particular animal actually belonged to her mother, but Kimberley was living with her mother and began taking responsibility for some of the care of the dog. They had gone to the PDSA to seek medication for the dog. They couldn’t afford to take the dog to the vet but were saving up for that.”
He said his client had learning difficulties, depression and was “very dependent” on alcohol. He said: “She was well-intentioned but not competent enough to look after this dog.”
Watts, who had earlier pleaded guilty to animal neglect between December 13, 2023, and February 15 2024, was given an 18-month community order with 25 days on Probation Service programmes, along with a six-month alcohol treatment programme.
She was banned from keeping pets for five years and ordered to pay £50 costs.