WOMAN GIVEN LIFETIME ANIMAL BAN AFTER DEAD KITTENS FOUND IN HOME
A woman in Blackpool has been banned from owning animals for life after the discovery of dead kittens within her home.Crystal Addison, 41 years old, was given a lifetime disqualification from keeping pets, alongside a conditional 20-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, after the case was brought by the RSPCA.
Addison, living on Brook Street in Blackpool, admitted to four violations of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 during a court hearing at Lancaster Magistrates Court on April 14.
The court was told that RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping responded to an incident at Addison’s residence on Worcester Road, Blackpool, on February 5, 2023, after a landlord, concerned about animal welfare, had found animals that morning and had provided them with food and water.
Inspector Lamping rescued Blaze, a black and white cat, from the kitchen following concerns about the animals’ neglect.
The same kitchen contained the remains of a four-month-old black and white male kitten and the partly eaten body of another kitten, whose sex could not be identified, lying in rubbish near the back door.
Other animals, including a leopard gecko, a French bulldog, and a Chihuahua, were located alive in the lounge and a bedroom.
Describing the scene at court, the inspector stated: “I entered the kitchen and saw two dead cats and one living adult cat.
The first deceased cat, black and white, was on a pink and black animal bed close to the back door to the garden, and was clearly not alive.
It was very thin, with bones easily felt through its matted, dirty fur.
The second dead cat was amongst rubbish and litter, with only part of its body remaining.
The living cat, Blaze, was alert, mobile, but appeared thin and unkempt.” The inspector detailed how the kitchen was in a poor state, with dirty floors and surfaces, piled-up rubbish, and a full litter tray containing feces and urine.
Nearby was a small, unclean dog crate without bedding.
Addison was advised that veterinary review was necessary for the surviving animals, and that the deceased cats would require post-mortem examination to establish cause of death.
She agreed to this and expressed her intention to hand over Blaze to the RSPCA.
Vet reports confirmed that Blaze, along with the dogs Loki and Marnie, were at risk if their circumstances remained unchanged.
These animals were seized by the local authority’s dog warden during ongoing investigations.
A veterinarian submitted written findings indicating that the male kitten’s death was consistent with a period of malnutrition, possibly due to starvation or illness, resulting in low blood sugar, collapse, and death.
The report stated that inadequate supervision contributed to the animal’s death since proper care and feeding should have been provided.
The second kitten had signs of trauma post-mortem, with no underlying disease or signs of starvation, but had been partially eaten after death.
Blaze, estimated to be about five years old and weighing 2.45 kg (5.40 lbs), was found to be anaemic and dehydrated and was transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment.
During interview, Addison stated she had left her property on February 3, taking her dogs but leaving the cats in the kitchen, with arrangements for someone else to care for them.
She returned around 4pm on February 5 and was shocked to find the cats had died.
The individual she named for caregiving denied any involvement or being asked to look after the animals during her absence.
As part of her penalty, Addison was ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, pay £300 in costs, and an additional £154 victim surcharge.
Blaze was later cared for at the RSPCA Preston & District Branch, where she gained weight to 3.23 kg (7.12 lbs) by March.
She was adopted into a loving home and renamed Rose.
