SHAUN PECKHAM FROM WORTHING CONVICTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY INVOLVING STARVING DOGS NEAR HIS HOME

Shaun Peckham, born on May 30, 1968, and residing on Anscombe Close in Worthing, was found guilty of animal cruelty after his two dogs, both severely emaciated, were discovered wandering the streets in the vicinity of his residence. The incident drew significant concern from local residents and animal welfare authorities alike.

Passersby in Worthing noticed the two dogs, a Rottweiler named Kaiser and a Labrador called Biscuit, roaming freely without supervision. The dogs appeared to be in a dire state of neglect, prompting immediate action from animal welfare teams. It was confirmed that neither dog was microchipped, which complicated efforts to identify their owner initially. The animals were taken to a veterinary clinic for examination, where the veterinarian confirmed that both were suffering from extreme starvation, a clear indication of neglect and cruelty.

In response to the distressing discovery, the welfare team at Worthing District Council posted photographs of Kaiser and Biscuit on their official Facebook page, urging anyone with information to come forward. The post quickly garnered attention from concerned residents, some of whom provided information leading to Shaun Peckham being traced as the owner. Subsequently, authorities visited his property on December 22, 2014, to investigate further.

During the investigation, two additional dogs were found on Peckham’s property. Fortunately, these animals were in good health, contrasting sharply with the condition of Kaiser and Biscuit. Peckham claimed that the two emaciated dogs had been stolen from him eight days prior to their discovery. He insisted that Kaiser belonged to his son, Lloyd Peckham, who lived elsewhere, but admitted that Biscuit was his own dog. Peckham maintained that the dogs had been stolen, although he had not reported the thefts to the police. He also remarked that Biscuit had always been thin, which raised questions about his explanation.

Further examination by the council’s dog wardens included an expert report, which concluded that the dogs’ poor condition was the result of a prolonged period of inadequate or inappropriate nutrition. The report estimated that it would have taken approximately eight weeks for the dogs to reach their current state, indicating sustained neglect over that period.

Following these findings, Shaun Peckham was summoned to court, where he pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act. The court sentenced him to a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to rehome his two other dogs and was disqualified from keeping pets for five years, a ban that expired in January 2021. The case highlighted the importance of animal welfare enforcement in Worthing and served as a reminder of the consequences of neglecting vulnerable animals.