JAMES HAYDON'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN HIGHER BEBINGTON AND READING REVEALED

James Haydon, a man previously residing in Mount Park, Higher Bebington, Wirral, and now living on Island Road, Reading, Berkshire, has been convicted of multiple serious animal welfare offences. His case highlights a disturbing pattern of neglect and cruelty involving the sale and mistreatment of dogs, including puppies, which he kept and sold through Facebook. The details of his crimes paint a grim picture of the conditions in which these animals were kept and the extent of his disregard for their well-being.

In December 2019 and January 2020, RSPCA officers responded to concerns raised by members of the public about the welfare of dogs at Haydon’s residence in Higher Bebington. Witnesses reported seeing dogs that appeared emaciated and living in squalid conditions. An improvement notice was issued to Haydon, demanding that he address the issues. Despite this, inspectors returned a few weeks later to assess the situation and found the conditions had worsened.

Inspector Naomi Norris was called to a local kennels to examine a dog named Freyer, who had been handed over by Haydon. She observed six dogs confined in two garden pens, all of whom were walking in their own feces. Freyer was notably thin, with sagging teats still containing milk, suggesting recent nursing of puppies. Naomi Norris recounted her concerns: “She was very thin and had saggy teets that still contained milk. It appeared as though she’d recently had puppies and I was concerned for their welfare.” When she returned two days later to follow up, Haydon responded aggressively, shouting from a window and refusing access to the dogs.

On February 5, 2020, a warrant was executed at Haydon’s address, with Naomi Norris and police officers present. During the raid, they discovered four six-week-old puppies in a cupboard under the stairs. The puppies were in a deplorable state, with visible ribs and spines, lying on a cold, unventilated floor with no bedding or light. The vet who examined them emphasized their urgent need for removal. Additionally, a large fawn-colored dog was found in a small cage in the lounge, lacking bedding, food, or water, and the cage was far too small for the animal.

Further inspections revealed a crate so tiny that a dog inside could not turn around. Outside, six large dogs were kept in two runs in the garden, all appearing underweight and living amidst thick layers of feces. The dogs were moving through the mess, splashing feces into the air, with buckets present but no water available for them. Naomi Norris noted that these dogs had deteriorated since her last visit in January, raising serious concerns about their health and welfare. She also heard a male voice shouting aggressively from inside the house, which she described as intimidating.

Many of the dogs showed signs of neglect, including cropped ears and docked tails. One dog, Storm, had a swollen, untreated wound on his leg and was found wearing a shock collar, which officers removed. In total, eleven dogs and puppies, all of Cane Corso type, were seized and taken into the care of the RSPCA. The adult dogs—Aries, Winter, Brille, Artemis, Diosa, Storm, and Hera—were placed in rescue centers, while the puppies—Deloris, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna—were rehomed through the charity’s network. The puppies’ names reflected their discovery location, with some named after Harry Potter characters.

Sadly, Artemis was euthanized due to severe health issues. Storm and Hera were rehomed together and are now thriving with their new family. Other dogs, including Aries (renamed Acer), Brille (Lola), Diosa (Callie), and Winter (Roxy), found loving homes after spending approximately a year in care. Naomi Norris described the dogs’ varying temperaments, noting that Callie and Lola were more nervous, likely due to their cropped ears and docked tails, whereas Acer and Roxy were more confident.

In addition to the neglect cases, Haydon was convicted of three offences related to a puppy named Max, also a Cane Corso, sold in September 2020. The puppy was sold to a member of the public for £1,800 along with another dog, Storm. The new owners, Andrew and Samantha Hood, traveled to the North East to collect the puppies, with Haydon providing registration documents. However, Max was found to be in a critically poor state. The Hoods noticed abnormalities such as fur loss and a mark on Storm’s head, which Haydon claimed was from a bite and an abscess, providing coconut oil for treatment.

Shortly after purchase, Max suffered severe health issues, including diarrhea and extreme underweight, weighing only 1.9 kilograms when he should have weighed between eight and nine. A veterinarian diagnosed multiple sores, infected cuts, and infections on all four paws, attributing these conditions to the poor living environment. The vet concluded that Max’s condition was so dire that euthanasia was the only humane option.

During the court proceedings, Haydon’s defense argued that he had done his best under difficult circumstances. They claimed he had moved to a larger home at significant personal expense to better care for the animals and that he was heavily in debt—around £25,000—with much of that debt incurred trying to improve the dogs’ living conditions. The defense also highlighted that Haydon had signed over the animals to a charity after pleading guilty to the offences. They emphasized that he had made efforts to change and was currently living under a suspended sentence for cannabis cultivation. Haydon’s background was described as troubled, including a previous suicide attempt and a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

Sentencing included a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 30 days of rehabilitation and thinking skills sessions, a fine of £250, and a five-year ban on keeping all animals, which will expire in August 2026. The court’s decision reflects the severity of his actions and the ongoing concern for animal welfare in the region.