Two individuals were found guilty of neglecting their Lurcher dog, leading to its death due to starvation. This horrific case of animal cruelty shocked investigators with its severity. Kerry Patterson, 35, and Reece Milburn, 30, claimed to have found the three-year-old dog, Tiggy, abandoned on the roadside before notifying the council.
A wildlife rescue official visited their residence in Blyth, Northumberland, and described the animal’s state as the “most severe case he had encountered in his decade and a half on duty.” In the images, Tiggy appeared to have very little hair on her skin and her ribs were visibly protruding due to her emaciated appearance.
She was incredibly parched, dealing with rashes and being infested with mites, and was too feeble to even get up on her feet. Tiggy was found just a few days before Christmas in 2019, and her distressing pictures quickly spread across the internet, leading Northumberland County Council to seek help in finding her owners.
A few days afterwards, many letters arrived at the council declaring that Tiggy belonged to Patterson and Milburn. On Thursday, March 3, the couple showed up at North Tyneside Magistrates Court and admitted to causing unnecessary harm to a protected species. They also confessed to failing to take care of their other dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Enzo, who is struggling with a skin condition and mite infestation.
The pair received a 12-week prison sentence, a lifetime ban on owning animals, and were ordered to pay a victim fee of £120 each. The council described the case as one of the most shocking instances of animal cruelty in the county. Philip Soderquest, a council spokesperson, praised the hard work of their animal welfare team in investigating such cases and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The attorney involved in the case expressed satisfaction that the former owners of Tiggy were finally brought to justice after a two-year legal battle.
Tiggy’s journey had a happy ending, all thanks to the dedication of the team at Berwick Animal Rescue Centre. “She is thriving, radiating health and happiness in her new home, surrounded by canine companions, and sporting a brand-new name.”
Enzo, the couple’s second furry companion, is currently staying at a kennel, eagerly awaiting the day he finds his forever family.