Please find below a press release from the RSPCA.

2 April 2025
 

Couple banned from keeping animals after failing to help elderly dog

The 12-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was sadly put to sleep

A Leeds couple who left their elderly pet dog to suffer with numerous ailments - leaving him in such a bad way he had to be euthanised - have been banned from owning animals for life after a prosecution by the RSPCA.

Dog Oreo’s owner Deborah Barkley (DOB 25.08.1981) and her partner Matthew Dove (DOB 03.12.1975), both of Poole Crescent, Leeds, failed to seek necessary veterinary treatment - and as a result Oreo was left in severe pain.

When he was taken to a vet by an RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, they determined his suffering was so great that putting him to sleep would be the kindest option.

Barkley and Dove both pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at Kirklees Magistrates Court on 18 March this year. The couple were banned from keeping animals for life and each handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Jenny Anderson initially attended the couple’s home at Poole Crescent in Leeds on 19 June last year, following reports of a dog with “fur missing and covered in scabs”.

She said: “Straight away I could see Oreo was missing most of his fur, as large areas of pale skin were obvious to the eye. Initially, you could tell he was very skinny as when he was lying down his spine was visible and prominent … Oreo had obvious matts in his ears and I could see live fleas running on his bald patches.”

Following a discussion with Barkley and Dove, ARO Anderson issued them with a warning notice to get Oreo seen by a vet within two weeks, as well as a welfare voucher to help towards costs as the couple had stated money was an issue.

When ARO Emmeline Myall visited the couple two weeks later, on 9 July 2024, for a follow-up, Oreo had still not seen a vet. Speaking to Dove at the property and Barkley over the phone, they agreed to let ARO Myall take Oreo for an examination.

After being checked over by a vet at an independent private practice, Oreo was transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where the decision was made to euthanise him that day.

At a tiny 7.3kg (16lb), Oreo was so underweight that his body condition score was just two out of nine - a healthy dog should score four or five.

An RSPCA veterinary surgeon, whose colleague examined Oreo, said: “This will have affected his everyday life … the stiffness of the hindlimbs and overgrown nails making it painful and uncomfortable to walk.

“It is unknown if [Oreo] was eating … the dental disease was described as severe in nature therefore eating would have been painful. This dental disease will have developed over a minimum period of several months.”

The vet also went on to say that Oreo’s skin conditions and ear infection would have caused physical as well as mental suffering.

The vet added: “The owner has failed to comply with recommendations, which has led to [Oreo] suffering. Regardless of the cause of the poor body condition, arthritis, ear, eye, dental and skin disease and whether treatable or not, veterinary treatment should have been sought much earlier.”

In mitigation, the couple’s solicitor told the three lay magistrates that Dove’s involvement in offending was minimal and that he “had little insight into the suffering of the dog”, but he did accept a duty of care.

With regards to Barkley, he said she “had limited finances and was not sure what else to do”, and it was noted that she experiences anxiety and depression. She realised she “could and should have done more” for Oreo.

The magistrates’ chairman told the court ahead of sentencing: “I must say that I was appalled at the state of the little dog.”

Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Joanne Taylor, who investigated the case, said: “The thought of any animal suffering so unnecessarily, especially an elderly dog who should be living out his retirement years happily, is heartbreaking - especially when there were plenty of opportunities to avoid this before Oreo got to the state he was in.

“As a result, the court followed a recommendation to impose lifetime bans.

“We all know times are tough, but owning a pet is a big responsibility and one you take on for the animal's whole lifetime - if people find themselves in financial difficulty, we would urge them to seek support from animal welfare charities who are there to help prevent animals suffering needlessly.”

Anyone struggling with the cost of owning a pet can find help available - animal welfare charities can offer help and advice, and the RSPCA has launched a dedicated cost of living hub to signpost help available for owners.

For more advice and information on pet welfare, please visit the RSPCA website.

Ends

Note to editors

Images available here.

The offence the defendants were convicted of (both convicted of the same charge):

1. That between 9th June 2024 and 9th July 2024 at … Poole Crescent, Leeds, you being jointly concerned with [ DEBORAH BARKLEY / MATTHEW DOVE ] , did cause unnecessary suffering to a certain animal namely a male Cavalier King Charles spaniel known as Oreo … by one or a combination of

• By failing to provide veterinary treatment in respect of -

          • the dog’s poor bodily condition and weight loss.

          • Skin disease.

          • Eye disease.

          • Dental disease.

and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to act would have the effect of causing the animal to suffer or be likely to do so, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.