ARRON DIXON OF MERTHYR TYDFIL SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL WELFARE OFFENCES

Arron Lee Dixon, born on 26 January 1992 and residing in Aberfan Fawr, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 4PE, was convicted in 2019 of neglecting and assaulting horses. Dixon, owner of Dixon’s Removals & Clearances, was found guilty of multiple animal welfare violations involving three ponies kept at a site in Bryngoleu.

The ponies—a grey Welsh gelding, a male skewbald native, and a small male skewbald native—were found by RSPCA officers to be underweight and living with very limited grazing land or supplementary feed. One of the skewbald ponies was so emaciated and in poor health that a veterinarian stated he had "suffered unnecessarily," and another had escaped the field and was grazing elsewhere.

On March 21, 2019, during a follow-up welfare check, RSPCA officers caught Dixon beating one of the ponies. The animals were subsequently rescued and taken into RSPCA care, with plans for rehoming.

Dixon, who operates a house and rubbish clearance business called Dixon’s Removals, was convicted of five animal welfare offences dating back to February and March 2019. Although he pleaded not guilty initially, he was found guilty in his absence at a later hearing.

An RSPCA spokesperson explained that the charity had previously advised Dixon on proper horse care in February, highlighting the lack of grazing land. Despite this, when officers returned in March, the ponies remained underweight, still lacking sufficient food and proper care. During this visit, as they awaited a vet and police assistance, Dixon was seen physically assaulting the skewbald native pony.

Gemma Cooper, an RSPCA spokeswoman, commented: “These ponies were grazed illegally on unsuitable land without access to supplementary feed, meaning their needs were not being met. One was so underweight that vets confirmed he was suffering. We had previously attempted to work with Dixon, but on return, no improvements had been made. One pony had even escaped and was found grazing elsewhere. Luckily, we were able to rescue these ponies and give them a second chance. All three have since made remarkable recoveries and are now available for rehoming.”

Dixon was convicted of three charges related to the ponies’ weight, one for failing to provide a suitable diet, and another for failing to protect the skewbald native pony from pain, suffering, or injury through inappropriate handling and physical abuse, including hitting.

His sentencing included an 18-week prison term, suspended for 12 months, along with 20 days of rehabilitation. He received a 10-week curfew, was ordered to pay £1,000 in court costs, and was banned from keeping animals for five years (until December 2024).