RSPCA inspector issues this damning statement about owner following dog's tragic death
A woman from Sunderland has been fined after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to her dog, which sadly lead to the animal’s death.
WARNING - This story contains a potentially distressing image
Clarice Mole, 33, of Devonshire Street, Sunderland, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to her seven year old female fawn coloured bulldog, named Beast.
During a hearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Cole accepted she failed to deal with the cause of Beast’s poor body condition and weight loss which led to the dog’s death.
The court heard that in March 2025, Mole took Beast’s body to a local vet after the dog died at home, but staff at the veterinary centre contacted the RSPCA amid concerns about Beast’s body condition and the possible cause of her death.
RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Keogh investigated the case and a post-mortem was carried out by a veterinary pathologist at Liverpool University, which indicated that Beast had starved to death.
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In her witness statements, Inspector Keogh described Beast’s body when shown by the vet.
She said: “I noticed Beast’s body smelt extremely strongly of urine, and she appeared to be in a thin body condition and covered in faeces.”
Inspector Keogh scored Beast’s body condition just two out of nine, adding in her report that she had slightly overgrown nails, with her paws caked in brown material, likely mud or faeces.
Mole was ordered to pay a fine of £200 and ordered to pay £1,700 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
After Mole’s sentencing, Inspector Keogh said: “This was a really upsetting case to investigate. As dog owners, we have a responsibility to ensure our pets are well which includes monitoring their health and seeking vet care when required.
“Poor Beast slowly starved which was completely unnecessary and tragic.”
In mitigation, the court heard that Mole hadn’t realised that Beast wasn’t eating and believed the other dogs at the address must have been eating Beast’s share, and that she had tried her best but hadn’t been able to cope.