Birmingham pensioner kept 37 dogs in ‘miserable and dirty’ condition
A pensioner has pleaded guilty to seven counts of animal cruelty after keeping 37 dogs in horrendous conditions at her farmhouse in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
Margaret Harthill, aged 64, of Goodrest Lane,handkerchief, admitted keeping the animals without adequate bedding, water, or in a hygienic environment after they were found living and sleeping on compacted mud and excrement.
She also admitted restraining some of the dogs on tethers that were too short and keeping them in a pen in her garden that did not keep them warm or dry.
The pensioner appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court following four years of visits from RSPCA inspectors to her home.
Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said despite numerous offers of help and advice from the charity since 2007, Harthill had refused any help, leaving prosecution as the only solution.
He told the court: “Attempts have been made to provide assistance to this lady from 2007 until today. She had been brought before the court because she would not accept assistance or advice.”
Mr Sutton said inspectors visited Harthill on 16 occasions and eventually sought a warrant from the courts to access her property after she refused to speak to them.
They found the animals, described as wild, in a make-shift pen which had been cobbled together. Mr Sutton said: “These animals were subject to a thoroughly miserable and dirty life.
“A more sinister aspect of this case is, at the property there was a cellar with no natural light; it was awash with excrement, water and mud.
“Animals had been kept in that cellar and on the door were scratch marks where animals had tried to get out.”
He added five puppies were also found at the house, three of which were put down because of a condition commonly found in dogs which have been inbred.
The rest of the animals were removed and sheltered at RSPCA kennels where he said the cost of treating and homing them had run to 36,000.
Kalsoom Bashir, defending, said Harthill had become overwhelmed looking after the sheer number of dogs at the farmhouse.
But she said most of the animals were in an acceptable condition and had been fed and watered adequately.
She said: “In fairness to Mrs Harthill there was a time when she became overwhelmed, she had 37 dogs and she is 64 years old.”
The case was adjourned until September 26 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.