A couple has been banned from owning animals after they were caught disposing of their elderly dog, Maddie, in a callous manner. Terrence Boyd, 34, and Sadie Boyd, 32, were spotted on CCTV carrying a black bag along Walter Street in Brierfield, Lancashire, on the morning of August 27 last year. The couple proceeded to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, where they heartlessly dumped Maddie into the water inside the bag.
Initially mistaken for a bag of clothes by a dog walker who witnessed the act, Maddie was rescued when her head emerged from the bag. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service retrieved Maddie from the canal, and she received urgent veterinary care.
Maddie, who was microchipped to Sadie Boyd’s address, had to be euthanized due to her deteriorating condition. The Boyds, residing on Walter Street, were given an eight-week suspended custody sentence each after pleading guilty to offenses under the Animal Welfare Act related to Maddie, seven kittens, and a corn snake found at their property.
In addition to the ban on keeping animals for 10 years, the court learned that the couple’s residence was unsanitary, with piles of pet waste and a rodent infestation. The vet who attended to Maddie described her severe malnourishment, hypothermia, muscle atrophy, dental issues, and neck wounds. Despite veterinary efforts, Maddie’s condition worsened, leading to the decision to euthanize her.
The surviving kittens, discovered malnourished and in poor conditions, were rehomed by the RSPCA. The court mandated the Boyds to undertake 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and pay a victim surcharge. They are prohibited from overturning the disqualification order for five years.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Nix expressed gratitude to those who assisted in Maddie’s case, emphasizing the importance of accountability in such incidents. The corn snake found in inadequate conditions at the couple’s property was transferred to an exotic specialist. Other animals owned by the Boyds, not involved in the offenses, were also taken into care for rehoming by the charity.