KELLY HEDGER'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN MALBY AND ROTHERHAM REVEALED

Kelly Louise Hedger, born on January 26, 1989, and residing at 4 Fretwell Close in Maltby, Rotherham, has been found guilty of multiple animal welfare offences in her absence, following a detailed investigation into the deplorable conditions her animals endured. The case, which has garnered significant attention, highlights the severe neglect and cruelty inflicted upon her pets, including four dogs and two horses, all of which were subjected to inhumane living environments.

Hedger was accused of leaving her four dogs—two Labradors, a Rottweiler named Buster, and a Dachshund called Dinky—without adequate food or water in a home that was described as filthy and hazardous. The conditions inside her residence on Fretwell Close were so appalling that an RSPCA officer reported that her eyes stung upon entering. The interior was filled with broken glass, green mouldy faeces, rubbish, and drug paraphernalia, with hundreds of empty alcohol bottles scattered across the garden. Despite multiple warnings and improvement notices issued by the RSPCA, Hedger repeatedly ignored efforts to compel her to clean and improve the environment for her animals.

On November 9, 2021, police officers, accompanied by RSPCA Inspector Vanessa Reid, executed a warrant at Hedger’s property. The inspection revealed shocking conditions: the kitchen reeked of ammonia and faeces, with several empty bowls on the floor and a significant accumulation of rubbish and belongings. Moving upstairs, inspectors found four bedrooms covered in rubbish, belongings, and faeces, including old, mouldy faeces alongside fresh deposits, indicating the dogs had been living in these squalid conditions for some time. The bathroom was littered with multiple piles of faeces, some containing seeds, suggesting the dogs had been eating bird food. No water bowls or fresh water were present in any of the rooms, and the smell was described as overpowering, almost unbearable.

In the house, only a half-full mop bucket containing filthy brown water was found, with no pet food or packaging in sight. Drug paraphernalia was also scattered around, posing additional health risks to the animals. Outside, Buster the Rottweiler was kept in hazardous conditions among household debris, shattered glass from a broken window, and numerous empty alcohol bottles. The dogs were seized and taken for immediate veterinary care. Veterinarians examined the animals and found Buster and Alfie, one of the Labradors, to be emaciated, with Buster suffering from starvation and poor nutrition. Dinky the Dachshund was diagnosed with an untreated inguinal hernia, while Alfie had a large untreated mass on his chest. Buddy, another dog, bore multiple scars from past fights, indicating ongoing violence.

The veterinary assessments described the living conditions as “horrendous,” emphasizing that no animal should be subjected to environments filled with mouldy faeces and broken glass. The neglect was evident, with the animals suffering from starvation and dehydration, conditions that Hedger was fully aware of but failed to address. The court was also informed that Hedger kept two horses in a field on Brookhouse Lane in Laughton en le Morthen. When the RSPCA visited, they found a dark bay gelding and a dun-coloured Shetland pony with minimal grazing, buckets of dirty water, and no supplementary hay, food, or shelter. Both horses were monitored for six days but were ultimately seized after Hedger failed to return during that period, and they were placed into the care of the RSPCA.

Attempts to interview Hedger between November 2022 and January 2023 were unsuccessful, as she failed to attend scheduled appointments. During the sentencing, District Judge Spruce acknowledged the prolonged suffering of the dogs, noting their “very poor condition over a period of time as a result of intermittent starvation.” The judge also recognized Hedger’s “physical and mental health concerns” and emphasized that she required support from probation services rather than a custodial sentence. In her defense, Hedger claimed that other individuals had taken over her property at the time of the offences, and she denied ownership of Dinky, the Dachshund, which allowed the RSPCA to rehome him after rehabilitation.

Sadly, Buster the Rottweiler was deemed unrecoverable despite dedicated care, and a decision was made to humanely euthanize him. Meanwhile, Buddy has been adopted into a loving new home, and efforts are ongoing to find a suitable placement for Alfie. The two horses have been relinquished into the RSPCA’s care and will also be rehomed. Following the sentencing, Inspector Reid expressed relief that the case, which spanned over three and a half years, has finally concluded. She stated, “It’s ended a long period of uncertainty for Buddy and Alfie in particular, whom we have legally been unable to rehome until now. The dogs had been starved and were living in squalor without food or water, yet Hedger denied repeated warnings to improve their situation. The horses were also not receiving anywhere near the appropriate level of care and attention, so we’re pleased these animals now have the chance to lead much happier lives.”

The court sentenced Hedger to an 18-month community order with 40 rehabilitation activity requirements and imposed a one-year ban from keeping animals, which will expire in June 2025. This case underscores the importance of animal welfare enforcement and the ongoing efforts of the RSPCA and police to protect vulnerable animals from neglect and cruelty in the Maltby and Rotherham areas.