ANIMAL ABUSE CASE INVOLVING MICHAEL PRICE AND SHANNON HANRAHAN IN NEAR KIRKBY STEPHEN

In 2020, Michael Patrick Price, born on July 5, 1991, residing at 24 Lime Tree Avenue, Malton YO17 7BZ, and his partner Shannon Hanrahan, also known as Shannon Price, born on April 6, 1993, from Kidacre Park Travellers Site, Kidacre Street, Leeds LS10 1BD, were convicted of abandoning multiple animals at Appleby Horse Fair.

RSPCA inspectors responded after a passer-by reported seeing a pony tethered next to the A685 just outside Kirkby Stephen, while two dogs were seen roaming free near empty kennels. The animals appeared unsupervised and without adequate care. The pony was without access to drinking water, and another dog, found in a cage lacking bedding, had no clean water either.

Inspector Claire Little explained: “On Friday 31st May, whilst on duty in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, my colleague and I received a request from the police to help with some animals.

As we arrived at the scene, I saw a brindle lurcher-type dog and a collie-type dog among traffic, with police trying to catch them.

We managed to secure the dogs and bring them into our van for safekeeping as we spoke with officers.

It was explained that the dogs' owners were believed to be the occupants of a caravan nearby, currently in Bradford.

The dogs wore collars but lacked any tethering equipment, and the only living area observed was a small roughly 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft cage without a lid, which had no shelter.

The police also noticed some birds in cages inside a van next to the caravan. A check revealed these were wild goldfinches.

I then saw a small cream-colored Lhasa Apso-type dog in a metal cage at the roadside. The cage was secured with a lid but no shelter was provided, and the dog was lying on wet grass without access to water. Due to the rainy weather, the dog appeared to be shivering.

Nearby, a grey Shetland pony was tethered with a blue nylon rope tied tightly around its neck. The rope was so tight that I could not insert my finger between the rope and the pony’s neck, raising concerns about potential injury if the situation persisted. The rope was attached to a fragile hedge branch. The pony’s hooves appeared overgrown.

The police confiscated the three dogs and the pony, placing them into RSPCA care.

Price admitted neglecting the pony’s needs, as well as those of a lurcher and a collie cross, and also confessed to possessing two goldfinches. Hanrahan admitted to neglecting the caged dog and illegally possessing the goldfinches.

A deprivation order was issued for the pony and the two dogs, which will now be cared for and rehomed by the RSPCA. The birds were released back into their natural habitat.

In sentencing, Michael Price was ordered to perform 60 hours of unpaid work, pay costs and charges totaling £690, and was banned from owning or keeping any animals for four years. Shannon Hanrahan received a 14-day curfew at an address in Byker, Newcastle, along with an obligation to pay £250 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge.