A tenant has been prosecuted for a series of animal welfare offences committed in a private rental property.
Environmental health officers found 32 dogs, including 12 puppies, inside Georgina Bodle’s rented home in Drayton Bassett after obtaining a warrant to enter the property in March 2023.
Some of the floors of the three-bedroom semi-detached property were covered in faeces and there was a strong smell of urine. Some dogs were found in cages unable to move whilst others had no access to water.
Lichfield council had received complaints that Bodle, 31, was advertising a number of services from her home.
This included breeding dogs, dog boarding and a whelping service. Bodle, who did not have a licence, failed to cooperate with environmental health officers, leading to them obtaining a warrant to enter her home in March 2023.
Bodle, who no longer lives at the property, appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
She was bailed to return there for sentencing on March 27. In the meantime, the district judge ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service. The maximum penalty for these offences under the Animal Welfare Act is 51 weeks imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
A council spokesperson says: “This was a dreadful case where a significant number of dogs were found being kept in atrocious conditions in a small, rented property.
“Some of the dogs were not owned by Bodle but were entrusted into her care by unsuspecting members of the public. Motivated by greed, Bodle was caught failing to meet the needs of the dogs and the court will now determine what sentence is appropriate.
“I hope this sends a message that our environmental health officers will take robust action against anyone neglecting animals in Lichfield District”.
This article is taken from Landlord Today