A woman who kept four dogs in a home described as “filthy with faeces and urine-covered floors” has been banned from keeping animals for 12 months. Michelle Batty, 45, of Robinson Street, Preston, appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on July 15 after pleading guilty to four animal welfare offences. Three of the dogs were so badly injured that a vet decided the kindest course of action was to put them to sleep.
RSPCA Investigation Reveals Horrific Conditions
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Kelly Nix visited Batty’s property on October 6 last year alongside police officers. In a statement, she said: “I was immediately hit by the smell of urine and faeces at the property.” Inside, officers found French bulldogs Buddy and Finn struggling to walk, with overgrown nails curling into their foot pads. A spaniel named Tilly had open, bleeding sores on her back toes, with missing nails and exposed bone.
Batty admitted she had not taken any of the dogs to a vet. All four animals—Buddy, Finn, Tilly, and another French bulldog named Lesley—were seized and taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
Veterinary Assessment Reveals Prolonged Suffering
A vet examined the dogs and found Buddy suffered from a degenerative spinal condition that left him unable to walk on his back legs. His overgrown nails had penetrated his skin, causing pain for at least two weeks. The spinal condition also meant he could not control his bladder, and his prognosis was poor. Finn had an infected wound from an overgrown nail and was very lame, suffering for at least a week. Tilly had chronic infected wounds on the toes of her back legs, with parts of the toe bones missing, causing pain for at least two weeks. The vet concluded that all three dogs had a poor quality of life and were euthanized to prevent further suffering.
The fourth dog, Lesley, was also found in the squalid environment but was later discharged from the hospital after spending time in RSPCA-approved accommodation. Lesley will now be rehomed.
Court Sentence and Bans
At sentencing, the court heard that Batty expressed remorse and had no previous convictions. She signed the dogs over to the RSPCA. Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order requiring her to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days. She was also disqualified from keeping animals for 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £144.
Deputy Chief Inspector Nix said after the hearing: “These poor dogs were left without veterinary care in dreadful conditions at the defendant’s property. Some of them already had health issues and the failure to take care of them and address the filth and squalor they were living in made matters worse.”
Details of the Offences
Batty admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs between September 21 and October 7, 2025. Specifically, she failed to provide proper veterinary care for Buddy’s spinal condition and ingrown nails, Finn’s ingrown nails, and Tilly’s open infected wounds and missing toe bones. She also admitted failing to meet the needs of all four dogs by not providing a suitable environment, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The RSPCA welcomed the sentence, highlighting that neglecting animals' basic needs is a serious offence. The charity encourages pet owners to seek timely veterinary care and maintain clean living conditions to avoid such tragic outcomes.
