Decade-long dog ban for man who kept collies with carcases
An Okehampton farmer has been banned from keeping dogs for ten years after failing to improve the squalid conditions for his 13 collies, despite several warnings and advice from Devon County Council.
Leon Henry Smith (aged 62, of Castle Road, Okehampton), who has twice been banned from keeping sheep or cattle, was given the chance to improve conditions for the dogs after the judge at Exeter Crown Court deferred sentencing earlier this year.
However, his case was brought back to court early last month after Devon County Council's Trading Standards Team and DEFRA veterinary officers found fresh evidence of neglect, the most shocking being when Police discovered of one his dogs confined overnight in a parked van with a maggot ridden sheep carcass alongside two others in unsuitable cages without food or water.
Regular visits by animal welfare officers, under the instruction of the court, have shown no significant improvements being made to the poor standards of the dogs care. Officers advised Mr Smith to provide fresh water, clean up their enclosure and concrete the area to provide a suitable dry environment, but the court heard they continue to be housed in appalling conditions in rubbish filled and muddy make- shift leaking kennels with no access to adequate dry clean areas and poor shelter with little protection from the weather.
One dog was also found to be suffering with a skin condition which Mr Smith refused get treated by a vet.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“The court gave Mr Smith the opportunity to demonstrate that he could comply with the requirements of animal welfare legislation and achieve the necessary standards of care. Despite being advised by our Trading Standards Officers and local vets on how to achieve this, he has failed to do so.
“The conditions his animals were kept in fall well below acceptable welfare standards, and Mr Smith’s failure to address this left us no alternative but to bring this case back to court.
“Banning him from keeping dogs for the next ten years sends a clear message to those who do not meet basic animal welfare needs, and we will continue to take all necessary action to ensure that these acceptable standards of animal care are met.”
The Council's Trading Standards Team launched their investigation into Mr Smith in February 2011 following complaints from members of the public. Visiting his land at Meldon they found his dogs feeding on the body of a dead pig that had been left in their enclosure, while more pig carcases were found amongst piles of rubbish and broken machinery by the entrance to the field. Since then several other carcasses have been found at the site, including the remains of a dead sheep in a horse box.
Livestock carcasses are legally required to be disposed of in an approved and safe manner to prevent the spread of disease to animals and humans.
Appearing at Exeter Crown Court in May, Mr Smith pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and six charges under the Animal By-Products (England) Regulations 2005. Today he also pleaded guilty to two further animal by-products offences, relating to sheep and other carcass remains found on his land at Meldon during an inspection on 19 April 2012. These, along with the judges concerns about Mr Smith’s general disregard to the welfare of animals, were taken into consideration and he received a ten year ban from keeping dogs, and was order to pay an £800 fine and £500 in costs.
