KYLE MOORE FROM ELLESMERE PORT SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO FRENCH BULLDOG COCO IN BIRKENHEAD

Kyle Moore, a teenager from Ellesmere Port, was found guilty of neglecting and causing the death of a young French bulldog named Coco. The tragic case unfolded in a flat located in Birkenhead, Wirral, where Coco was left to suffer from severe starvation and neglect over a period of approximately three months. The circumstances surrounding her death revealed a disturbing pattern of carelessness and abandonment by Moore, who had been entrusted with her care by his sister, Leanne Griffiths.

According to reports, Moore had been responsible for feeding Coco, a puppy just eight months old, after Griffiths and her boyfriend, Jon Brookshaw, moved out of the flat to establish a new home. However, Moore admitted that he often forgot to feed the dog, sometimes going days without providing her with food or water. Witnesses and investigations confirmed that Coco's condition deteriorated steadily, with her becoming increasingly emaciated and dehydrated. The veterinarian’s report indicated that Coco, who weighed only 4.6 kilograms at the time of her death, had been suffering from hunger and dehydration for several months prior.

The discovery of Coco’s remains was made by landlords’ agents acting on complaints from neighbors about a foul smell emanating from the flat. When authorities entered the premises on May 12, 2022, they found the flat in a deplorable state, strewn with rubbish, with dog feces covering the floors, and no food or water available for the dog. The body of Coco was found lying on the floor, surrounded by dried feces and filth, in a space that was described as totally unsanitary and unsuitable for any living creature.

Further investigation revealed that Griffiths and Brookshaw had initially taken Coco for breeding purposes. However, when Griffiths moved out in March 2022, she refused to take the dog with her, citing concerns that Coco was not toilet trained and would be attacked by their other dog, Molly. Griffiths admitted to visiting the flat after moving out, where she saw Coco alive but very thin, and she acknowledged that the environment was in a terrible state, describing it as a “shithole.” She claimed to have last seen Coco three to four days before her death, noting that the puppy was “skinny but alive.”

Moore, who lived with his mother, stated that he visited the flat approximately twice a week to feed Coco, believing that Griffiths was also caring for her. He admitted to forgetting to feed her on many occasions, recognizing that Coco had been losing weight for about three months and was “barely alive” at times. The court was told that Moore was aware of Coco’s deteriorating condition but believed it was not his responsibility to intervene.

Veterinary experts confirmed that Coco had suffered from prolonged starvation and dehydration, with the environment she was kept in being grossly inadequate. The report highlighted her suffering from hunger, weakness, and lethargy, and emphasized the complete lack of socialization and companionship she experienced. The expert concluded that her prolonged suffering was directly caused by the failure to provide her with proper care.

During the court proceedings, Moore’s defense argued that he was on the autism spectrum and expressed remorse, though the court noted that his remorse appeared limited. The defense also pointed out that Moore did not live with Coco for a significant period before her death and that he was not the primary caregiver. Nonetheless, he was held accountable for neglect.

In sentencing, Moore received an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities, perform 50 hours of unpaid work, and pay a victim surcharge of £154. Additionally, he was disqualified from owning any animals for the next five years, a ban that will last until March 2028. Inspector Anthony Joynes of the RSPCA described the case as one of the most heartbreaking he had encountered in his 14 years of service, emphasizing the profound failure of those responsible to protect Coco from such suffering.