ABIGAIL BARKER SENTENCED IN LEEDS FOR CRUELTY TO DOG NAMED COOKIE

Abigail Barker, born on June 11, 1992, of Raylands Way, Middleton, Leeds LS10, was convicted in 2025 of neglecting her French bulldog, Cookie, by failing to address her medical conditions and allowing her to become severely malnourished.

Barker was found guilty of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act related to Cookie. The case was brought to court after RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Kris Walker visited Barker’s home on January 12, 2024, to investigate concerns about the dog’s welfare.

In his court statement, Mr. Walker described what he observed: “I saw a fawn female French bulldog type dog named Cookie in the kitchen. She appeared to be a good weight, alert and bright, but she had an obvious skin condition. There was hair loss over her back, and her skin was sore on her feet, which were red and swollen.”

The court was told that Barker had previously tried to treat Cookie with various over-the-counter remedies. She was issued an improvement notice and warned to take the dog to a veterinarian. However, when Mr. Walker returned in February 2024 to check if she had complied, Cookie’s condition had worsened. Her skin was raw and infected, her ears were sore, she had lost weight, and she looked despondent.

Barker stated that she did not have financial issues but explained she did not drive, which allowed Mr. Walker to take Cookie for urgent veterinary treatment.

The veterinarian’s examination revealed Cookie weighed just 10.7 kg and was severely underweight, with a body condition score of only two out of nine. Her ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvic bones were clearly visible. She had extensive skin lesions on her face, ears, trunk, and legs, along with inflamed facial folds with yellow discharge. Her ears were infected, thickened, and narrow, and she had significant hair loss around her eyes, ears, abdomen, limbs, and toes. The veterinarian observed that the thickened skin in these areas indicated chronic self-trauma from scratching and licking. Her nails were overgrown and curling, and blood tests showed no other medical issues, suggesting her poor condition was due to inadequate nutrition.

The vet noted that with proper treatment, Cookie’s skin condition could improve. The injuries were preventable through regular flea and worm treatments, nail trims, correct nutrition, and routine vet visits. The vet stated: “It’s my professional opinion, due to her severe, extensive, and chronic itchy skin as well as the bilateral chronic ear infections, that the person responsible for Cookie caused her unnecessary suffering and had failed to meet the dog’s needs via the appropriate veterinary attention and treatment. A reasonable owner would recognise and seek treatment for such diffuse dramatic skin lesions and scratching. These problems were clearly visible due to her loss of hair, prominent discharge, and malformation of ears and her frequent scratching behaviour. Cookie had suffered for a minimum of four weeks.”

During the investigation, Cookie was signed over to the RSPCA. She was placed with a foster carer from the charity’s Burton upon Trent & District Branch, who later chose to adopt her. Additionally, two other dogs belonging to Barker have been rehomed.

Regarding sentencing, Barker received a 12-month community order with up to 15 days of rehabilitation activities, along with fines and costs totaling £364. She was also banned from keeping any animals for seven years but has the right to appeal after five years, which would be after January 2032.

The case was reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.