Animal Cruelty Case

Kittens mistreated by animal carer

An elderly woman has been accused of cruelly neglecting animals in her care home in Wimborne.

Gillian Mary Hughes, ages 60, has taken into her care many abandoned and stray kittens since 1982. Although after recent inspections from RSPCA it has become clear that six kittens have been very poorly mistreated. The kitten’s conditions were described as confined and smelly, while the litter trays were full, the shed where the kittens were kept had bad ventilation and only a small entrance.

The six kittens, four of which only weeks old and two slightly older were suffering from problems like chronic disease, flees, conjunctivitis and lice. Many of the other kittens also were very thin but were in much better health.

Mrs Hughes stated that ‘I noticed they had eye issues, but I thought they were just mucky and that I could wipe them clean’. Mr Hughes states that she always looks after the animals which also includes horses, rabbits and dogs and that she does the best she can looking after the animals with the amount she gets from her pension. Mrs Hughes also states "I have never mistreated the animals in my care, I have cared for them all my life and I would do anything for them"

A close contact Phillipa Roddell claims that after recent inspections of Mrs Hughes house there have been much improvement in the conditions that the animals are being kept in and that they are being treated up to the required standard set by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The law enforces that those who are looking after animals must makes sure they have all the adequate resources to maintain the animal conditions.

On Monday afternoon Mrs Hughes was given a conditional discharge of two years and fine of £500 pounds after being told she had the right intentions but will be forced to continue the improvement of her care.