Dog put down after couple mistreated it so badly (From Daily Echo)

Boo Boo the shih-tzu destroyed after being mistreated

2:14pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Andrew Napier, Winchester Chief Reporter

Dog put down after couple mistreated it so badly

CIVIC chiefs have pledged to clamp down on animal cruelty after a married couple were prosecuted for mistreating a dog that had to be put down.

David Townsend, 40, and Louise Townsend, 36, from Bishop’s Waltham have been fined and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Council staff were initially called to their home in Battery Hill last July following complaints about dogs barking.

Animal welfare officer Emily Bowen and colleague Sandi Goldman discovered a female adult shih-tzu dog named Boo Boo left in a wire crate for long periods and covered in her own waste.

Her eye had been removed due to a dog attack a few years earlier, but the wound had not been cleaned, looked after or checked by a vet.

Vets decided it was in Boo Boo’s best interests that she be put to sleep.

The Townsends admitted a range of offences including; causing unnecessary suffering to their dog; failing to protect the animal from pain, suffering, injury and disease; and failing to provide suitable accommodation.

Fareham Magistrates’ Court fined the couple £1,000 each and disqualified them from keeping animals for five years.

Cllr Roger Huxstep, Winchester City Council’s portfolio holder for environment, said: “This case sends an important message for all to know that we will not tolerate animal cruelty.”

Comments(12)

sfcdan1992 says...
2:31pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I would love to stick them in a wire cage cover them in there sh!t and see how much they like, sick people who should be banned from keeping animals for life

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Rachiebabe says...
3:00pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Sick people .they should be banned for life form keeping animals .i have 2dogs I would be devastated if anything happened to either of them .

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ToastyTea says...
3:19pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.

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Northamboy says...
3:32pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I hope they rot in hell, there is no excuse for animal cruelty whatsoever.

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Stillness says...
4:11pm Wed 6 Mar 13

ToastyTea wrote:
Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.

Why are you glad that they don't live near you? Please explain.

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minnie64 says...
4:46pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Stillness wrote:

ToastyTea wrote: Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.
Why are you glad that they don't live near you? Please explain.

Because stillness ToastyTea will want to do what I would want to do and cover them in their own s**t and leave them in a cage to rot - simples !!!

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Normandy says...
4:49pm Wed 6 Mar 13

These two are low lifes
The same treatement would
be justice for these two.
Hope all the family and friends
know what these two are really
like.
Fingers crossed something like
what goes aroubd comes around
happens.
They make me sick.

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Stillness says...
5:58pm Wed 6 Mar 13

minnie64 wrote:

Stillness wrote:

ToastyTea wrote: Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.
Why are you glad that they don't live near you? Please explain.
Because stillness ToastyTea will want to do what I would want to do and cover them in their own s**t and leave them in a cage to rot - simples !!!

So would it not be easier/better if they they did live near then?

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J.P.M says...
8:16pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Stillness wrote:

minnie64 wrote:

Stillness wrote:

ToastyTea wrote: Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.
Why are you glad that they don't live near you? Please explain.
Because stillness ToastyTea will want to do what I would want to do and cover them in their own s**t and leave them in a cage to rot - simples !!!
So would it not be easier/better if they they did live near then?

Ohh shut up.

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sparkster says...
8:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13

disgusting these scum should also be put down, animals are for life. They should NEVER be allowed to keep animals anymore

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Stillness says...
9:34pm Wed 6 Mar 13

J.P.M wrote:

Stillness wrote:

minnie64 wrote:

Stillness wrote:

ToastyTea wrote: Sickos, I'm glad they don't live near me. Hate people that are cruel to animals like this, scum.
Why are you glad that they don't live near you? Please explain.
Because stillness ToastyTea will want to do what I would want to do and cover them in their own s**t and leave them in a cage to rot - simples !!!
So would it not be easier/better if they they did live near then?
Ohh shut up.

Only one h in "Oh". Could do better. Must try harder ;-)

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anastasiabeaverhousen says...
7:49pm Thu 7 Mar 13

It's such a shame that this story has been mis-reported and I am disappointed in the standard of journalism at the Daily Echo. The couple only admitted one of the offences and all other charges were dropped.

I have read stories about the mistreatment of animals many times and, like most of the commenters, have been horrified that anyone could be so cruel. As an animal lover, I have been quick to condemn.

Yet this time, it hit closer to home. The couple in question are friends of mine - I have known Mrs Townsend since we were small children. There is no bigger animal lover in this world than her. She has a number of other animals who are perfectly well kept and healthy and have had to be re-homed due to the overzealousness of the council setting out to make an example of someone who is an easy target.

I am a frequent visitor to the Townsends house and never once witnessed BooBoo covered in her own faeces. At times she was kept in a suitably sized crate to protect her from two inquisitive small children.

Without going into details on the day that BooBoo was seized, I know Mrs Townsend was having a difficult time trying to juggle the demands of her young family and her poorly dog. She missed an appointment at the vets (and presented evidence at court that the appointment and unfortunately cancelled at the last minute) due to an ill child. What a tough call deciding who to put first. Her child or her dog? I would challenge anyone to know how to prioritise that one.

But because the Daily Echo have only chosen to report one side of the story, everyone has been quick to condemn Mrs Townsend. Perhaps you should try walking a mile in her shoes before you judge her. She is one of the biggest hearted people you could ever want to meet and is devastated by the way her life has been torn apart by The Perfect Storm.

Perhaps if Mr Napier wants to publish a real story in the paper, he should consider investigating the way the Townsends have been victimised and the effect that a ridiculous fine plus the huge amounts of money the Townsends put into trying to clear their names will have on the Townsends three children who now face losing their family home.

Please don't be so quick to judge until you have had the opportunity to view both sides of the story.

It's such a shame that this story has been mis-reported and I am disappointed in the standard of journalism at the Daily Echo. The couple only admitted one of the offences and all other charges were dropped. I have read stories about the mistreatment of animals many times and, like most of the commenters, have been horrified that anyone could be so cruel. As an animal lover, I have been quick to condemn. Yet this time, it hit closer to home. The couple in question are friends of mine - I have known Mrs Townsend since we were small children. There is no bigger animal lover in this world than her. She has a number of other animals who are perfectly well kept and healthy and have had to be re-homed due to the overzealousness of the council setting out to make an example of someone who is an easy target. I am a frequent visitor to the Townsends house and never once witnessed BooBoo covered in her own faeces. At times she was kept in a suitably sized crate to protect her from two inquisitive small children. Without going into details on the day that BooBoo was seized, I know Mrs Townsend was having a difficult time trying to juggle the demands of her young family and her poorly dog. She missed an appointment at the vets (and presented evidence at court that the appointment and unfortunately cancelled at the last minute) due to an ill child. What a tough call deciding who to put first. Her child or her dog? I would challenge anyone to know how to prioritise that one. But because the Daily Echo have only chosen to report one side of the story, everyone has been quick to condemn Mrs Townsend. Perhaps you should try walking a mile in her shoes before you judge her. She is one of the biggest hearted people you could ever want to meet and is devastated by the way her life has been torn apart by The Perfect Storm. Perhaps if Mr Napier wants to publish a real story in the paper, he should consider investigating the way the Townsends have been victimised and the effect that a ridiculous fine plus the huge amounts of money the Townsends put into trying to clear their names will have on the Townsends three children who now face losing their family home. Please don't be so quick to judge until you have had the opportunity to view both sides of the story. anastasiabeaverhousen

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Dog put down after couple mistreated it so badly (From Daily Echo)

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