Dealer banned from keeping horses

A horse dealer has been banned from keeping horses and dogs after being found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering.

Refused to cooperate

Sarah Harrison (38) from Harlthorpe, North Yorkshire, had two horses seized and placed into RSPCA care.

Concerns about the living conditions of 20 horses in her care were first raised in 2012. The RSPCA offered Harrison advice on two seperate occasions, but she refused to cooperate and wouldn’t let them on her property.

The charity decided to obtain a warrant with the help of Humberside Police and in March 2013 they visited the premises. This was when they discovered two of the horses were in very poor health.

A dark bay gelding was emaciated with a body score of 0.5 out of 5, while an Appaloosa gelding had a chronic bacterial infection.

Neglected state

The attending vet concluded thesetwo horses were in such a neglected state that they should be seized. In addition, they noted the needs of five other horses were not being met by Harrison.

A Bernese mountain dog was also found in avery poor state of health, with two claws hanging off.The inspectors were told a horse had trodden on the animal a few days earlier.

The dog was taken for veterinary attention, and the couple were told he would need further treatment at a later date. However, Harrison and her partner Christopher Clarke (50) failed to take the dog back and the animal was subsequently seized.

Guilty as charged

Harrison was found guilty of three charges of causing unnecessary suffering and three offences of failing to provide animals with a suitable environment.

Along with her 18-month ban she was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,000 towards costs and was given a 12 month supervision order.

Clarke was found guilty of one charge of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide the dog with proper veterinary attention. He was banned from keeping dogs for six months and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

The couple has 21 days to rehome any animals still in their care.

Responsibility

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Karen Colman said: “Miss Harrison blamed everybody but herself, when she should have taken responsibility for the welfare of the animals in her care.

“The magistrates made it quite clear in their sentencing, that if found guilty of cruelty, anyone could face being banned from keeping animals, regardless of whether it is their livelihood or not.”