A beagle puppy found with a broken leg has found her forever home with her foster carer, following a court sentencing.
Narla came into the care of the RSPCA last September with a broken leg and was subsequently taken into possession by police after it was found that she had been suffering as her owners had failed to provide her with vet care.
Thankfully after receiving surgery she has recovered well and she was placed with one of the animal charities’ dedicated foster carers, who following a court order, has chosen to officially rehome her.
Michael Jon Griffin (d.o.b 04/04/1991) and Jade Angharad Eatwell (d.o.b 16/06/1995) of Hector Avenue, Crumlin, Newport, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday 7 June.
They had pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act in that they caused unnecessary suffering to Narla, by failing to provide vet care and attention for her broken leg.
The second offence was that they both failed to meet her needs to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to failing to adequately supervise the puppy.
In mitigation the court heard that it had been an accident – which had been accepted by the RSPCA – and finances were the reason for Narla not going to the vet.
At sentencing they were both disqualified from keeping any animal for 10 years, and an order was made to transfer Narla officially into the RSPCA’s care – although she was also officially signed over. They were both ordered to pay £400 costs and a £114 victim surcharge and a seizure order was made in respect of the other animals they currently have.
Eatwell was handed a 12 month community order which includes 60 hours of unpaid work. Griffin was handed a 12 month community order which includes a 10 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and was also ordered to pay a £120 fine.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black said it was on 20 September last year when they attended the Hector Avenue property and met Narla – and was told she was around 16-17 weeks old.
She said: “When she saw me she got up and came towards me, and I saw immediately that she was not using her front left leg.
“She had a large fluffy sock on her front left leg that was on top of a bandage. Ms Eatwell explained to me that either on Sunday or Monday of that week she had fallen from a bedroom window and hurt her leg.
“She told me that she had not received any veterinary attention and that she had put the bandage on the leg to offer it some support.”
Gemma explained that Narla needed urgent veterinary attention and wished to take her to the vet immediately and Ms Eatwell agreed and gave consent for her to receive anaesthetic, sedative, X-Rays and treatment as deemed necessary by the vet.
At the vets it was found that she had suffered a broken leg that required complex surgery and the following day after she was officially taken into possession by police and transferred to RSPCA Newbrook Animal Hospital where she was admitted for further treatment and surgery.
In a witness statement provided to the court by vet Jonathan Fitzmaurice, he said that he first saw Narla on 20 September.
He said on examination, she was 10/10 lame (not putting the limb to the ground at all) and on her left foreleg she had a light dressing around the carpus (wrist joint equivalent). She also seemed bright and alert. He administered pain relief as he was concerned over either a fracture or dislocation of the joint.
X-Rays showed a fracture through the bottom end of the humerus (the bone between the shoulder and elbow joints).
He concluded: “Whilst young dogs will often outwardly appear bright and alert while still being in pain, it should be obvious that a dog that is unable to put its leg to the ground after falling out of a window should be taken to a veterinary surgeon for treatment.
“In my professional opinion this dog’s owner has failed in their duty of care by failing to seek veterinary attention for an animal that had obvious health and pain issues and by not seeking that attention has allowed the dog to suffer unnecessarily in their care for the length of time from falling out of the window until the Inspector brought her to us.”
The surgery included a screw being placed across the fracture to hold things in position, and she has gone on to do very well in foster care.
Narla’s foster carers – who now plan to officially rehome her – have called her Bonnie.
“She has grown into the most loving adorable girl,” they said. “She is complete chaos – a bundle of energy and love – who adores the beach!
“Bonnie has a cheeky streak and does sometimes show some attitude – but we wouldn’t have her any other way! We can’t wait to ‘officially’ adopt her and take her on holiday later in the year – where she can spend all day running in the sand!”
