Marston Green woman banned from having pets for 10 years

A woman who kept 135 rabbits and guinea pigs has been banned from having pets for 10 years after a large number of the animals had to be put down because of neglect.

The RSPCA found 135 animals in the care of Helen Inshaw, of Blackfirs Lane, Marston Green. A large number were in such poor health the charity had no option but to put them down.

Many others required veterinary care for wounds, infections and skin problems, while others had been kept in unacceptable conditions.

Birmingham Magistrates Court heard Helen Inshaw had an “unmanageable” number of rabbits and guinea pigs and, as result, was unable to provide adequate care for them.

The 43 year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 13 charges under the animal welfare act, which included causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the welfare needs of guinea pigs and rabbits in her care. She was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which included 200 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay costs of around £2,200.

She was also banned from keeping all animals, apart from ducks and geese, for 10 years.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “Putting animals to sleep is not something that is taken lightly at all. We and the vets are in this profession to do all we can to save animals. This was just an unmanageable amount of animals for one person to have. It just wasn’t physically possible for someone to observe and examine and clean this excessive amount every day. This was not a deliberate act of cruelty. But she had mismanaged the situation and got herself in a mess.

“The ban will ensure she doesn’t get herself in this scenario again,” the spokesperson added.

Read the full story here: http://www.solihullnews.net/news/local-news/marston-green-woman-hit-10-year-6770162.