DAN JANES SWANSEA ANIMAL HOARDER FACES COURT AFTER NEGLECT OF DOGS AND CATS IN SWANSEA
Daniel Mark Janes, born on May 7, 1992, and residing at Llanllienwen Close, Ynysforgan, Swansea SA6 6LY, has been convicted of severe animal neglect involving two dogs and ten cats.The case, which drew the attention of the RSPCA, highlights the disturbing conditions in which the animals were found and the ongoing efforts to hold Janes accountable for his actions.
Janes, who was well known to the RSPCA authorities in Swansea, failed to appear in court despite multiple notices, prompting the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act during his sentencing at Swansea Magistrate Court on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
The charges stemmed from the appalling state of his home and the neglect of the animals kept there.
The RSPCA's intervention was prompted by the discovery of the animals in a filthy, unkempt environment.
The property was described as being covered in feces, with a strong, pervasive smell of cat urine filling the air.
Many of the animals were found to be dangerously underweight, suffering from health issues, and infested with fleas.
The neglect was so severe that it prompted immediate removal and veterinary assessment.
Janes admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire-type dog named Rocky and a female collie-lurcher called Brandy.
He failed to investigate or treat their poor health and weight loss, neglecting their skin conditions and overall well-being.
The other victims included cats named Dot, Dora, Snickers, Caesar, Bela, Narla, Rose, and Gizmo, all of whom were dehydrated due to Janes' failure to provide adequate fresh water.
A ninth cat, White Lily, was found in a poor physical state, with significant weight loss, and did not survive.
Another cat, Arlo, also succumbed after being found in a similar condition.
The court was informed that the RSPCA had previously attempted to engage with Janes, scheduling multiple visits to check on the animals' welfare and the environment.
However, he often canceled appointments at the last minute or failed to respond when officers arrived.
It was only on April 7, 2023, that RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West and Inspector Holly Brown gained access to the property after persistent efforts.
During this visit, Janes was issued an animal welfare assessment form, which included advice to clean the flat, treat it for fleas, and take Rocky to a veterinarian for treatment.
He agreed to transfer four female ferrets to the RSPCA and had six cats treated for fleas, wormed, neutered, and microchipped.
Despite these efforts, subsequent visits revealed ongoing issues.
On April 30, Janes claimed he was caring for four cats for a friend, with one male cat confined to his bedroom.
A veterinary appointment for Rocky was scheduled but was not attended.
Further inspections occurred on May 18, with follow-up calls in July, but Janes remained uncooperative, refusing to sign over any animals to the RSPCA.
The situation escalated when, on August 25, Inspector Gemma Cooper received a distressing call reporting that two of Janes's cats, White Lily and Arlo, had been brought to a vet in an emaciated state, crawling with fleas.
White Lily had died, and Arlo was euthanized on welfare grounds.
Inspector Cooper attended Janes' home but found no one present.
Through the letterbox, she observed the skeletal condition of the animals, with visible hip bones and unsteady gait.
The cat had fur loss, red skin, and was in a dire state.
The property was filled with the foul smell of ammonia, with feces scattered across the floorboards and remnants of feces still present despite some cleaning.
The litter trays were full, and Janes claimed he had no cat food or litter at the time, although a large sack of dog food was visible in the flat.
Eight cats, along with Rocky and Brandy, were seized by the police and taken to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic.
The veterinary assessments confirmed that all eight cats were underweight and infested with fleas.
Rocky, weighing 21.1 kilograms, was found to be very thin with a body condition score of 2.5 out of 9, and Brandy, at 13.5 kilograms, was similarly underweight with fleas and skin issues.
Both dogs exhibited signs of neglect, including a heavy flea burden and poor skin condition.
Inspector Cooper expressed her disappointment at the failure to improve the animals' welfare despite multiple interventions.
She noted that two cats had died due to the neglect, but efforts to rehome the remaining animals were underway.
The surviving cats are now in the care of an RSPCA branch, and Rocky and Brandy are being fostered with plans for rehoming.
In court, the defense highlighted Janes' love for animals and claimed that he was often dumped with animals by others.
The court sentenced Janes to concurrent custodial terms, with a maximum of 26 weeks of immediate custody.
He was also disqualified from keeping any animals for life, although he has the right to appeal after ten years.
This case underscores the importance of animal welfare enforcement and the ongoing efforts of the RSPCA to protect vulnerable animals from neglect and cruelty in Swansea and beyond.
