GREYHOUND STARVED TO DEATH BY GRAVESEND COUPLE, BANNED FROM OWNING ANIMALS FOR SIX YEARS
Gee and Henzley, who have three children, failed to properly feed their greyhound cross, Rocky, despite being given vouchers by an animal charity to buy dog food.RSPCA prosecutor Amy Taylor told Judge Stephen Leake the pair both failed to take reasonable steps to ensure Rocky had an adequate diet and did not take him to a vet to investigate why he was losing weight.
She added: “A neighbour quite often fed him treats over the fence without permission in 2024 but she was told to stop feeding the dog as it got an upset stomach.
She was informed it had a regular diet.” The neighbour initially complied with their wish but, after she saw Rocky seemed to be losing more weight, she started feeding him again.
Ms Taylor said: “She got a note through her door telling her to stop feeding him and then the dog was only allowed out in the garden if the owners were with it.” However, the neighbour thought Rocky was still too thin and almost skeletal so called the RSPCA to report the matter.
When an inspector went to visit, it was found the couple had a Staffy-type, called Diesel, who was in a better condition than Rocky.
Rocky was taken to the vet in November 2024 when he was found to weigh 18.5kg.
His body condition score was three out of nine.
The couple were told to feed him more frequently and given vouchers to spend on the appropriate food.
The couple failed to keep a follow-up appointment, however, only returning 82 days later.
Rocky tragically died in the waiting room after having a seizure.
Ms Taylor added: “His body condition score was one out of nine and the vet felt he most probably died of starvation.” He should have weighed about 30kg for an adult dog of the breed but was 10.35kg when he died.
Russell Morley, defending Henzley, said: “It’s a very sad case.
She was a mum of two children and was pregnant and gave birth on January 2.
“The new baby affected her mentally and there were issues with the neighbour next door.” The court also heard Gee, who lives part-time with Henzley, was on benefits, “suffered from anxiety and depression” and had not worked for more than a year.
Judge Leake was told Rocky’s death had caused sadness for them both and the children and that a lack of “education” may have been a reason why he had not cared for the dog adequately.
Their family situation, dealing with three young children as young parents, had been “overwhelming” for them and Gee’s “best efforts” as a primary carer for the dog were “not good enough”, said the defence.
Judge Leake said that Rocky had been subjected to a “significant degree of suffering” before his untimely death.
He added: “This was an extreme case.
You failed to feed your dog and it was obvious Rocky was in a bad condition.” “I am disqualifying you from owning all species of animal for six years.” At this point, Henzley burst into tears and, referring to her other pets, said: “They are my life and my children’s life.” The judge was told a family member was willing to take on the animals so the couple and their children could still visit their pets.
