A Bromley man has been banned from keeping dogs for three years after two of his pets were found severely malnourished at his home.
Kemar Prince, 47, of Sissinghurst Close in Bromley, admitted failing to care for a female bull breed named Princess and a male French bulldog cross named Prince. He was sentenced at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on October 6 following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Alongside the three-year ban on owning dogs, Prince was fined £200 and ordered to pay £300 in costs. Both dogs have since made a strong recovery after being rescued.
The case began when Animal Rescue Officer Chloe Wilson visited the property on February 24, after receiving photographs showing Princess’ ribs, spine and hips clearly visible. When no one responded to an advice notice left at the address, officers returned the next day accompanied by police and found both dogs in poor condition.
Animal Rescue Officer Havlin, who attended the follow-up visit, described finding Princess in very poor body condition, with ribs, hips and spine all prominent, and sores on both rear hocks. Prince was found in a similarly poor state, with flea dirt and faeces on his rear and paws wet with urine.
Both dogs were seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA. A veterinary assessment gave each animal a body condition score of just one out of nine — the lowest possible score, indicating extreme emaciation.
“It was so sad to see two beautiful dogs, Prince and Princess, in such a poor state of health,” said ARO Havlin. “I’m really glad we were able to intervene in time, and our thanks go to the Metropolitan Police officers who assisted with the rescue, and the vets who gave the initial treatment and care.”
What a keeping ban means
A disqualification order under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 can bar a convicted person from owning, keeping or participating in the keeping of animals for a set period — in this case, three years. Breaching the ban is itself a criminal offence and can lead to further prosecution.
The order can also extend beyond dogs: courts have the power to disqualify offenders from keeping all animals, or specific types, depending on the case. They can additionally order that animals be removed, and deprive the offender of ownership of animals already in their care.
The RSPCA, which brought this prosecution, is one of the main bodies enforcing animal welfare law in England and Wales. Its inspectors and animal rescue officers investigate complaints from the public, and where cases meet the evidential threshold they are passed to the charity’s prosecutions department. Serious cases — particularly those involving deliberate cruelty or prolonged neglect — are routinely put before the courts.
Neglect cases on the rise
Animal welfare charities have warned in recent years that neglect cases are climbing. The combination of rising living costs, expensive veterinary bills and impulse-bought pets — particularly fashionable breeds like French bulldogs — has left more animals in homes that cannot properly care for them.
Bull breeds and French bulldog crosses are among the dogs most commonly seen in rescue centres, partly because of their popularity and partly because of the health problems that can come with them. Veterinary charities advise anyone struggling to feed or care for a pet to contact a rescue organisation or their vet early, before the animal’s condition deteriorates to the point seen in this case.
The body condition scoring system used by vets runs from one to nine, with four or five considered ideal for most dogs. A score of one — as recorded for both Prince and Princess — describes an animal with no discernible body fat, clearly visible ribs, spine and hip bones, and evident loss of muscle mass. Vets say dogs found in that state require careful, gradual refeeding under supervision to avoid dangerous complications.
Members of the public who are concerned about an animal’s welfare can report it to the RSPCA’s cruelty line. The charity says photographic evidence, as in this case, can be crucial in prompting a visit — though officers will always attempt to work with owners through advice before taking enforcement action.
London Streets has been covering crime trends across south-west London and the Deepak Sandhu conviction this week.
