Animal ban for nurse and son

Aug 7 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A MOTHER and son who allowed a horse to starve through neglect have been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Nurse Susan Taylor, 49, and her son Liam, 27, failed to ask a vet to look at their bay mare Misty despite noticing the animal’s poor health, with all its bones and ribs visible.

The horse was barely able to walk up a hill before being taken into care by the RSPCA, Alnwick magistrates heard yesterday.

The Taylors, who were described as avid horse lovers, were also ordered to do 300 hours’ unpaid work each and to pay £975 court costs between them.

They had pleaded guilty to one count each, brought by the RSPCA, on a previous occasion.

They were accused of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between November 19, 2006 and January 19, 2007, by failing to provide it with an adequately nutritious and wholesome diet.

Prosecutor Clive McKeag told the court how RSPCA inspector Ian Smith visited a field at Waterside Farm at West Thirston, Felton, on January 19 following a complaint by two members of the public.

Mr McKeag said there were several horses in the field, but one in particular, Misty, was in a very poor state of health.

The court heard there was very little grazing on the field and that Misty found it very difficult to walk up a hill to a water trough.

She was examined by a vet and had sunken eyes due to weight loss and dehydration and every bone and rib on her body was visible.

She was also suffering from a historic heart murmur due to dehydration, had overgrown feet and a scruffy coat.The horse had suffered a muscle breakdown, caused by prolonged emaciation.

Mr McKeag said: “It was her (the vet’s) opinion that the horse had been the victim of neglect, causing the animal unnecessary suffering.”

The court heard Mrs Taylor, a nurse, had noticed Misty was thin but had not called a vet. The horses were taken into RSPCA care where Misty gained weight.

Defending, Michelle Lamond said Mrs Taylor, of Etal Close, Shiremoor, had been involved in the care and ownership of horses for several years. Mr Taylor, of Lintonburn Park, Widdrington, has also been around the animals since he was a young child.

Miss Lamond added: “It is with great great sadness and great shame that they come to court today.”

The solicitor said the Taylors had experienced difficulties in their home life which meant their care of Misty, who they had had for 18 months, deteriorated. The pair were said to be “shocked and alarmed” when they heard of their horse’s poor health and Miss Lamond said the case was one of neglect rather than deliberate mistreatment.