Terrible things happen to innocent animals on a daily basis. Some are more heartbreaking than others and this case is one of those. This story was most difficult to write since there was no need whatsoever for this cruelty to occur. Mostly anyone could have stepped in to help this unfortunate dog.
Cruelty is punishable under current laws. This act by Laura Shaw is despicable and cruel, yet she walked out of court, free.
The woman involved in this case is 23 year old Laura Shaw, the mother of two children, unemployed and alcoholic. She escaped time in jail after her hearing in Grimsby Magistrates' Court presided over by Judge Sam Goozee. Shaw was ordered to put in 200 hours of unpaid work. She was also banned from keeping animals for ten years and was expected to pay costs of £150.
What could Lulu have done to Shaw that was so terrible to condemn her to die in torment. You have to wonder. Does a 23-year-old woman know that life cannot be sustained without food and water? Could the animal have been given to someone or to a shelter?
The fact is, the dog was left to die, to starve to death. Pictures of the dog and of the scene were shown in court.
Judge Sam Goozee admonished Shaw this way:
You have committed a cruel and despicable offense. The pictures I have seen show the horror and pain that Lulu must have gone through in what was a very slow death. The conditions in which she was found are disgusting and she clearly had been dead for a while. Looking after an animal brings responsibility and you simply ignored those responsibilities.
Can you imagine what it would be like if a child went through what Lulu did? As an adult, you would never place a child in that position and you should not place an animal in that position.
Nigel Burn, prosecutor, stated that the conditions and the stench were simply overpowering. The house and bathroom were infested with large flies. Apparently, the dying dog had attempted to eat anything it could bite to satisfy its need for food.
Speaking after the verdict, an RSPCA spokesman said: 'This was a shocking incident. The poor animal would have suffered terribly, and it is terrible to leave a living creature to die like this.
Sources: Daily Mail, Causes
If you enjoyed this article, please click the link above to subscribe and get others. It’s free, informative and anonymous. Read my articles on Examiner.com and visit my website www.DressYourHorse.com.
Comments