Woman found guilty of neglecting 35 animals
A NEWMARKET woman has been found guilty of neglecting 35 animals in her care.
Claire McPherson, 36, was found guilty of failing to meet the welfare needs of seven hens, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, a cockatiel, two budgies, four hamsters, two rats, four mice and 11 cats, at Wisbech Magistrates Court on Monday, in a case brought by the RSPCA.
McPherson, of Bury Road, Newmarket, had previously denied failing to provide the animals with an adequate diet and a suitable environment.
The animals were removed from McPherson's previous address in March Road, Wimblington, into the care of the RSPCA by police officers in September 2008.
They had been left for periods of at least 48 hours without food and water.
Four of the hens had no ventilation in the outhouse they lived in and many of the animals and birds were living in very dirty conditions.
One mouse was found in a dirty glass cage along with the dead bodies of two other mice. Nine of the cats were in a bedroom with cat urine and faeces on the floor.
McPherson had claimed that a dispute with neighbours had led to her leaving the animals.
RSPCA inspector Jon Knight said: "The conditions the animals were left in were filthy and not at all suitable.
"They had no food or water and when we gave them water they all drank thirstily.
"To leave animals in this kind of e nvironment with nothing to eat or drink is unacceptable. I left notices for her to get in contact which were ignored. The Animal Welfare Act now enables us to take action to prevent animals from suffering where our advice is not taken."
Many of the animals have been signed over and rehomed. The remaining animals are in RSPCA care but remain the property of McPherson until she is sentenced at Wisbech Magistrates' Court on July 28.
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