By Joshua Robinson – 

A Yorkshire woman who left her dog alone for long periods and failed to get vet treatment for the canine’s serious eye condition has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Nicola Taafe, (D.o.B 24/3/1987), of Roberts Avenue, Leeds, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Monday 13th May.

As well as the disqualification, Taafe was handed a six-month prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months and she was ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Days (RAR) and pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £154.

The court was told RSPCA officers made several visits to Taafe’s home after reports that a Staffordshire bull terrier called Milo had been left abandoned. The court was told there were three periods at least where the defendant left Milo unattended for up to three days while she went to “score drugs.”

West Yorkshire Police officers seized the canine on December 14, 2022, after responding to a missing person enquiry relating to the defendant. The condition of the dog’s eye was so bad he required surgery at RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.

The defendant had proved difficult to pin down despite numerous visits by the animal charity. On July 13, 2022, RSPCA Inspector Joanne Taylor spotted a dog in the front room of the property and she posted some wet dog food through an open window as she could get no answer at the door.

Taafe denied leaving Milo unattended when RSPCA Inspector John Gibson called two months later. When the inspector returned on October 10 he could hear a dog barking inside the property, but again there was no answer at the door.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ollie Wilkes placed taped seals on the front and back doors of the empty property after again the dog was seen unattended on December 12. The officer returned the next day and the seals remained intact.

On December 14 police attended the property while they were undertaking an investigation and found Milo living in squalor. Floors were strewn with faeces and there was no food or water left for the dog.

The police contacted RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby and she managed to speak to Taafe on the phone. In a statement to the court, the inspector said: “The defendant told me she is a drug addict and that she left the dog to score drugs.”

“She said she was in a rehabilitation programme in Glasgow and wanted us to keep hold of the dog for her until she was able to take him back. I explained we do not offer a boarding facility and that since the dog was left unattended for three days we had begun an investigation.”

An expert vet stated that the dog was suffering from conjunctivitis and entropion, a condition in which an eyelid turns in and sticks to the eyeball. Milo underwent corrective surgery on the eyelid to ease his discomfort, although he has suffered long-term scarring.

In mitigation, the court was told that Taafe’s personal life was “chaotic,” she suffered poor mental health and she was addicted to Class A drugs.

The defendant refused to sign Milo over to the RSPCA, but the court made a deprivation order against her.

Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Hodby said: “We offered to rehome Milo as the defendant wasn’t at the address. She was given multiple opportunities to do this, but she wouldn’t let us and she left the dog for long periods of time when he was suffering from an eye condition.”

Milo has made a full recovery while he has been in the care of the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and District Branch, who now hope to find a loving new home for him.

The branch’s Animal Care Manager Megan Rattray said: “Milo is such a great boy. He is very lovable with some laughable quirks.”

“Even with his nervousness around new people, he shows so much love, affection and trust in those he knows. It is always nice to get a good morning kiss from him.”

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