WOMAN BANNED FOR PET NEGLECT AFTER DOG FOUND SUFFERING IN SQUALID CONDITIONS
A woman from Pinner has been banned from keeping dogs and cats for five years following an RSPCA investigation into severe neglect.Christie Baker (DOB: 2001), of Howards Close, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 14 July to causing unnecessary suffering to her dog, Dior, a two-year-old tan crossbreed.
The RSPCA began investigating in November 2024, after neighbors reported distressing barking from Baker’s flat, when it appeared no one had been home for two days.
RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster attended the property on 7 November and contacted police to gain access.
Inspector Broster described the scene: “The moment the door was opened I was hit by an overpowering smell of faeces and urine.
The police helped me enter, and inside, Dior was found cowering in the kitchen amidst rubbish and faeces.
The dog was likely in complete darkness with drawn curtains and was very scared, guarding the room.
The conditions were filthy, with rubbish everywhere, ripped open bags of dog food, and a bottle of bleach that had been chewed.” Dior was taken to Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, where veterinarians found her underweight, with signs of a chronic skin condition, inflammation, hair loss, scabs around both ears, flea infestation, rapid breathing, and a heart murmur.
The vet indicated that Dior had suffered from untreated ear and skin diseases, likely present for at least a week or longer.
Baker was sentenced to a five-year ban on keeping dogs and cats, a 12-month community order including 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, a £40 fine, and a £144 victim surcharge.
In her defense, Baker admitted to the poor conditions, citing she suffers from depression and ADHD, and acknowledged she failed to seek veterinary care due to financial issues and a lack of awareness of her dog’s illness.
She has since renovated her property with council assistance, and Dior is now recovering in RSPCA care, awaiting rehoming.
The incident highlights the importance of animal welfare and accountability.
