MICHAEL BENNETT AND SUSAN JONES FROM WALLASEY SENTENCED AFTER DOG MOLLY'S HORRIFIC MATTING CRISIS

Michael Bennett and Susan Jones, residents of Beechwood Avenue in Wallasey, Wirral, faced serious consequences after their neglect led to the suffering of their elderly shih-tzu, Molly. The dog’s condition was so dire that she was unable to walk properly, a situation that prompted an investigation by the RSPCA.

On October 2, 2018, RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes was dispatched to the couple’s home following an anonymous tip and a report related to a recent street fire that had led to the evacuation of their residence. The inspector was immediately struck by the appalling state of Molly, describing her as being in a condition that was almost unrecognizable. Inspector Joynes recounted his shock, stating, “We received a report about the dog’s condition following a fire in the street, which meant the house where she lived was evacuated, and a concerned member of the public spotted her poor condition.”

He further detailed the extent of her suffering: “When I went to the property I was so shocked — I honestly could not tell where her mouth was and where her back end was. Then I picked her up and could see weeks of faeces stuck in her matted fur at the back. The matting was so bad around her paws it meant she struggled to walk, and there was a chin strap mat around her mouth which prevented her from opening it properly, making eating and drinking very difficult. The fur growth had also caused a chronic eye condition, adding to her discomfort. She was also suffering from a severe flea infestation, which she was unable to scratch.”

Inspector Joynes described the case as the worst he had seen in his nine years of service. The couple, acknowledging their failure to care for Molly, agreed to surrender her into the RSPCA’s custody. Molly was then taken to Upton Veterinary Surgery for emergency treatment. During the assessment, veterinary staff discovered that her fur had grown so extensively around her front paw that it caused deformity, with her fur growing in the wrong direction. It took three sets of clipper blades and five hours of grooming to remove approximately two kilograms of matted fur.

Despite the severity of her condition, Molly’s back legs were found to be in good health after an X-ray, although her front paw was deformed. Fortunately, she was able to recover under the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed. Inspector Joynes expressed relief that more serious issues, such as limb amputation due to circulation loss, were avoided, saying, “We were really worried that under all the matted fur we may find more serious concerns. Often in these cases, the matting can cut off circulation which can result in multiple limb amputation. We didn’t know if this would be the case for Molly and fortunately it wasn’t.”

During court proceedings, it was revealed that Bennett and Jones had been struggling with health problems and had previously scheduled an appointment with the PDSA charity for grooming, but they failed to attend out of fear that Molly might be taken away from them. The couple pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Molly.

The court sentenced Bennett and Jones to a three-month curfew, ordered each to pay £200 in costs, and imposed a 15-year ban on keeping animals. The case drew attention to the importance of responsible pet ownership and the devastating consequences of neglect, especially for vulnerable animals like Molly, who has now been given a second chance at life.