Woman jailed for leaving dog suffering eye condition for three days in a riser cupboard shaft 

A dog owner has been jailed for causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs, after they were both suffering with eye conditions – and one had been left for three days after falling down a riser cupboard shaft in a block of flats.

Cindy Hancock, 37, of Charlotte Despard Avenue in Battersea, was found guilty of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court district judge sentenced Ms Hancock to a total of 35 weeks’ imprisonment, and disqualified her from owning all animals for 10 years, on August 26.

At the trial, the court heard that the RSPCA was asked to assist the London Fire Brigade in December 2021 after a crew from Battersea fire station had carried out a rescue of a black spaniel dog from a riser cupboard, where the dog had become trapped.

RSPCA animal rescue officer, Mat Hawkins, examined the dog, known as Maya, as well a second dog at the property, known as Oscar, and due to concerns he had for the dogs’ welfare, he transported them to a local vet to be examined.

Mr Hawkins said in his witness statement: “Cindy Hancock showed me the hole where Maya was stuck down and confirmed that the dog had been there for three days before she called fire and rescue. The hole was so deep I didn’t manage to see the bottom of the area.”

Both dogs were transferred to an RSPCA hospital. The vet’s witness statement said that Oscar had “a painful eye condition which went untreated by the owner, and they had therefore failed in their duty to prevent unnecessary suffering in this animal”.

Speaking about Maya, the vet said in the witness statement: “It is deeply concerning that the dog was left in a service shaft for that period of time, during which her needs were not met and she would have suffered both physically and psychologically. 

“It is extremely clear in this case that through ignoring the eye injury, failing to provide adequate nutrition and failing to rescue the dog from the service shaft as quickly as possible, the owner’s actions have resulted in significant and unnecessary suffering.”

Both Oscar and Maya recovered well in the care of the RSPCA, and now that the case has concluded, both dogs can be found loving new homes.

Pictured top: Maya and Oscar (Picture: RSPCA)