PRESCOT WOMAN SENTENCED FOR NEGLECT THAT LED TO DOG'S DEATH
Skelland pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to a Shih Tzu named Teddy who was found dead, and a merle French bulldog called Paddy.It was heard that she failed to provide Teddy with a suitable environment, adequate care and supervision, and proper grooming.
He suffered severe matting, overgrown nails and was in extremely poor body condition before his death.
Paddy was housed alongside the dead dog in what was described as a “cramped, filthy cage”.
The grim discovery was made during a mutual property exchange at an address on Wingate Road in Kirkby in August 2025.
During the handover, a black sack was found on the pavement outside the property.
Inside were the remains of Teddy.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Melanie Froude attended the scene.
In a statement to the court, she wrote: “I opened the black sack to find a deceased small light brown dog that appeared to be of Shih Tzu type”.
“The dog had been triple-bagged inside three separate black sacks.
“Within the final sack, alongside the dog, was a large amount of dried faeces and three small empty metal food bowls.” She described the dog as so severely matted that it was difficult to distinguish his head from his body.
The animal’s ribs, spine, and hips were “very prominent, with little to no fat covering”.
The body was taken to a veterinary practice, where RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes attended the next day.
Inspector Joynes said: “The paws were not visible due to large tight matts of fur.
“The body was covered in large amounts of faeces throughout and there was a strong smell coming from the carcass.
“The body, face, neck and legs were completely matted and I suspect this would have made it very difficult for the dog to move around as well as eat and drink when he was alive.
“Underneath the thick matting the dog was in extremely poor body condition with no obvious muscle or fat palpable.
“The hips, ribs and spine could be felt with ease next to the skin and the carcass weighed 4.3 kgs which included a large amount of fur and matted faeces.
“A number of grossly overgrown nails could be seen protruding from the matted paws.” He confirmed that the owner was Jane Skelland, who said Teddy had suffered a fit and died on the morning of August 8.
She told the inspector she could not afford treatment for the dog.
Skelland surrendered him to the RSPCA and said she had been trying to rehome him.
Veterinary evidence concluded both dogs had been kept in an unsuitable environment and had not received adequate care.
Following the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes described the case as “very tragic”, adding: “All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met.” The sentencing was a 12-week custodial sentence for one offence and an eight-week sentence for the second, both to run concurrently.
Both are suspended for 12 months; 15 days of ‘rehab’; £154 victim surcharge.
She is banned from keeping all animals for five years (expires May 2031).
