A heartless woman who neglected her two dogs and falsely claimed they were strays she found while on the school run has been revealed as their actual owner.
Shauna Rouse alleged she stumbled upon a pair of tangled Maltese terriers in a bush during an outing with her children. However, an inquiry uncovered that the 31-year-old was accountable for their deplorable state.
The canine duo was taken to Dogs Trust Manchester Rehoming Centre in Denton, where one collapsed, and the other was unresponsive. Bailey arrived weighing a mere 2.75kg, with matted fur, feces stains, and failing organs.
Regrettably, veterinarians had to make the difficult choice to euthanize him to alleviate further suffering.
It was later revealed that Bailey had a microchip linking him to Rouse, while the second dog, named Tiny Tim, was also malnourished and weighed only 2.8kg.
The distressing condition of the dogs prompted an investigation into animal welfare violations conducted by the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
Inspector Rachel Whalley traced Tiny Tim back to Rouse from Bunyan Close, Oldham, who confessed to owning Bailey and Marley (Tiny Tim).
Rouse appeared in Tameside Magistrates Court on October 10, admitting to two offenses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at a prior hearing.
She was handed a 10-year ban on owning animals, a 12-month community order, a 10-week curfew from 9pm to 7am, and was required to pay £200 in costs. Tiny Tim has since been rehomed and is thriving, now weighing 4.09kg in his new forever home.
Lisa Eardly, Manager at Dogs Trust Manchester, expressed, “The dogs arrived in a horrendous state, which was deeply distressing. However, we are overjoyed that Tiny Tim is now in a secure, affectionate environment, relishing life in his permanent residence. If anyone is struggling to care for their dog, please reach out to us.”
“Dogs Trust, in collaboration with the RSPCA and other organizations, offers assistance to pet owners, including pet food banks and our free behavior support line. We are prepared to intervene and aid owners who opt to rehome their dogs.”