DARRYL STOCK FROM WALFORD HEATH SHREWSBURY SENTENCED FOR STARVING 11 DOGS IN SHRAWARDINE

Darryl Stock, a resident of Walford Heath in Shrewsbury, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to eleven Newfoundland dogs during a disturbing case that unfolded between September 13, 2017, and October 11, 2017, at Woodside Farm in Shrawardine, near Shrewsbury. The case drew significant attention from animal welfare authorities and the local community due to the shocking conditions in which the dogs were kept.

According to RSPCA Inspector Nayman Dunderdale, the discovery was profoundly upsetting. The inspector recounted that the call from a concerned member of the public prompted a visit to the property, where the true extent of the neglect was revealed. The inspector described the dogs as being severely underweight, with ribs clearly visible through their skin. The eleven Newfoundland dogs were confined within three makeshift pens constructed inside a stable. These pens lacked basic necessities such as adequate food and water, and the bedding provided was minimal at best.

Inspector Dunderdale observed that the pens contained only a scant amount of feces, indicating that the dogs had not been fed for an extended period. Further investigation revealed that the pens were screwed shut, suggesting that the doors were rarely opened to allow the dogs access to food and water. To test whether the doors were opened during the night, the inspector placed a calling card on one of the pen doors in plain sight. The following morning, upon returning to the property, the inspector found the stable doors still screwed shut and the card untouched, confirming that the dogs had not been fed or watered overnight.

At this point, the inspector called in local veterinarian David Martin to assess the condition of the dogs. After examining the animals, Dr. Martin confirmed that their health was in a dire state, with all of them described as ‘emaciated’. Blood samples and further examinations revealed that their gastrointestinal tracts were completely empty, and most of the dogs were suffering from conjunctivitis, a common eye infection. The dogs were subsequently treated at Brownlow Vet Centre and placed in foster care for recovery.

In early November, approximately three weeks after their rescue, the veterinarian re-weighed all eleven dogs. The results showed a significant weight gain across the board, indicating that the dogs had been deprived of food and water for a prolonged period while in Stock’s care. The rapid weight gain was a positive sign of their recovery, and since then, all eleven dogs have reached healthy weights. They have since been adopted by loving families and are now living happily in their forever homes.

Inspector Dunderdale expressed satisfaction that justice had been served, emphasizing the severity of the dogs’ condition. He noted that some of the animals weighed only about half of what a healthy Newfoundland should weigh, underscoring the extent of their suffering.

In court, Darryl Stock received a sentence of four months in prison, suspended for a period, along with a total of £615 in costs and charges. Additionally, he was banned from keeping any animals for five years, a ban that was set to expire in May 2023. The case highlights the importance of animal welfare enforcement and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable animals from neglect and cruelty in the Shrewsbury area.