WOMAN HANDS DOG A HUMILIATING END IN LAKE, GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE
A woman who killed her pet dog by drowning it in a lake after claiming she believed the animal had cancer was ultimately spared prison.Michelle Moran, aged 63, threw her Jack Russell, Gypsy, into a lake near Gautby Road in Birkenhead, and later explained to investigators that she thought the dog was severely ill and could not afford to have her euthanized.
Gypsy's body was recovered from the water by a member of the public on September 29 of the previous year, a day after Moran had disposed of her.
Moran entered a guilty plea to two charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
On Thursday, May 28, at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, she received a sentence of 17 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months.
Additionally, she was banned from keeping animals, placed under a curfew from 6 pm to 6 am, required to complete 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
The case was investigated by RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes after the charity received a report on October 30 regarding Gypsy's death, which had occurred more than a month earlier.
Initially, Moran claimed her actions were accidental.
However, she later admitted that Gypsy was unwell and believed her to have cancer, which led her to drown her in the lake.
In a statement read in court, Inspector Joynes noted: “The defendant said she'd seen on social media the next day that Gypsy had been found dead in the lake and she knew she 'shouldn't have done it'." Moran expressed remorse for her actions, telling the inspector, “All I remember is throwing her in and walking away.” In a formal interview, she claimed Gypsy was suffering from tumors and had worsening eyesight, although a vet had not confirmed these conditions.
Inspector Joynes visited the scene and observed that the lake was enclosed by a concrete wall, making it very difficult for a small or elderly, unwell dog to escape from the water.
A veterinary examination showed Gypsy weighed only 3.7 kg and had a body condition score of two out of nine, with five being ideal.
The dog was also found with blood around her mouth and nose.
An expert veterinarian, who reviewed the evidence, concluded that Moran had caused unnecessary suffering by neglecting to seek professional help and by intentionally causing Gypsy's inhumane death.
“The defendant should have sought assistance if she believed it was time to euthanize Gypsy, and this should have been done in a humane, pain-free manner with veterinary support,” the veterinarian stated.
“Instead, she took matters into her own hands, leading to Gypsy's suffering and a cruel death.” The court was told that Moran cited financial problems as the reason she did not opt for euthanasia through a veterinary clinic.
After sentencing, Inspector Joynes described the act as "an extremely callous act."
