Woman who starved dogs banned from keeping animals

The RSPCA was sent photographs of the emaciated dogs in a back garden

A woman who starved two young German Shepherd dogs has been given a suspended 12-week prison sentence and banned from owning animals indefinitely.

Sylvia Woodward, 70, claimed the dogs, Sam and Merlin, had gone missing from her home near Malton before being returned by a member of the public "in a bad way".

After handing Merlin over to the RSPCA, she later admitted that Sam had died of starvation and was buried in her back garden in Burythorpe, the charity said.

Woodward, now of The Green in Hovingham, was sentenced at York Magistrates' Court on 4 September after earlier admitting an Animal Welfare Act offence.

Handing down the suspended sentence, magistrates said there was a "high level of suffering caused to both animals by depriving them of both food and water for a number of months".

The court ordered Woodward to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £154 and costs of £400. She will be unable to contest her disqualification order for 10 years.

The woman starved two young German Shepherd dogs, one of whom died and was buried in her back garden

The court was told that RSPCA animal rescue officer James Dack went to the property on 5 December last year after the charity had been sent photographs of emaciated-looking dogs in the back garden.

After a calling card was left, Woodward phoned the charity the following day saying she could not cope and wanted the RSPCA to take the dogs.

"The dog appeared subdued and very nervous," Mr Dack said of Merlin in written evidence to the court.

"I asked Woodward where the second dog named Sam was. She informed me he had escaped shortly after our earlier phone call. She had no idea where the dog was now."

Woodward was interviewed again by the RSPCA, when she admitted Sam had starved to death and she had buried him in her back garden.

Merlin remained in RSPCA care but his physical and mental health continued to deteriorate and he was put to sleep on veterinary advice.

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