A woman who runs a dog walking and boarding business in St John’s Wood has been banned from owning or dealing with dogs for ten years, following an investigation and prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
Charlotte Ford (DOB 7.5.1988), of Scott Ellis Gardens, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 20 August and was found guilty of three animal welfare offences and operating a day care and boarding business without the required licence.
The prosecution was brought following a visit by RSPCA Inspector Amy Pellegrini, a Metropolitan Police officer and an expert vet witness. The visit was prompted by video evidence submitted to the RSPCA, spanning a month and showing multiple incidents of dogs being mistreated in Ford’s care.
Three dogs inside the property – her own dogs, black cockapoo Rebel, and cream Doberman Ghosty, and a client’s dog named Ludo – were removed and taken to a vet practice for examination and treatment.
Ghosty was found to have infected lesions inside his mouth, a swollen muzzle and facial discharge. The vet determined that no treatment had been sought and administered pain relief and antibiotics. The injuries were consistent with trauma.
The vet concluded: “In my professional opinion, and in my experience of working with owners and their dogs, I do not believe this is the way in which a reasonable owner would handle their dog.”
A follow-up examination on 15 April following a groom found that Rebel had a white crusting around the muzzle. The vet concluded that “given the subsequent presentation of similar external cutaneous muzzle lesions (alopecia and scarring of skin around the mouth) to and the significant improvement in response to treatment, it is my professional opinion that these lesions were likely caused by a constriction-type trauma.”
Ford was disqualified from owning, keeping, participating in the keeping of and being party to an arrangement under which she is entitled to control or influence the way in which dogs are kept, and disqualified from dealing for ten years.
She was also sentenced to a 16 week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 100 hours unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £200 costs.
In mitigation, Ford’s solicitor told the court she was suffering from poor mental health, had a history of addiction, limited previous convictions, and is the sole carer for her son.
Both Rebel and Ghosty have since been rehomed by the RSPCA.
