In July 2025, RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor attended a flat in Walker Park Close, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, after concerns were raised about the welfare of a ten‑year‑old Shih Tzu named Blossom.
Kellyann Frampton, 35, allowed the inspector inside, where she found the property in a state described as wholly unsuitable for humans and animals.
The kitchen had no visible flooring and was covered in rubbish, old food packaging and waste.
Milk containers, pet food and other items on the counter tops were swarming with hundreds of baby flies.
The living room was so heavily cluttered that movement was difficult, with piles of belongings stacked as high as the inspector’s shoulders.
One of the bedrooms could not be accessed at all due to the amount of rubbish and personal items blocking the doorway.
Blossom was living in these cramped, unclean conditions with an untreated skin condition and a large mammary tumour measuring around 20cm by 20cm. The mass was so big it almost trailed on the floor as she walked.
Frampton told the inspector she had owned Blossom for a year and claimed the lump had once been the size of a grape. She admitted the dog had never seen a vet.
A veterinary examination later confirmed that the tumour was inoperable and had likely taken months to years to grow. Blossom was also suffering from untreated skin disease causing both physical and psychological distress. Given the size of the mass, signs of systemic disease and a heart murmur, the vet determined that euthanasia was the kindest option to prevent further suffering.
Sentencing
Frampton pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 when she appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on 27 March 2026. She was fined £200, ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £200 in costs. She is banned from keeping animals for the next five years (expires April 2031).
In mitigation, she claimed she had taken Blossom on from someone else and was struggling with her own mental health at the time of the offence.
RSPCA Statement
Following her sentencing hearing, Inspector Proctor said: “Conditions inside the flat were wholly unsuitable for humans and animals alike. We will sadly never know if the mass that Blossom had could have been operable if she had seen a vet sooner.
“It’s really important that those who are responsible for an animal seek veterinary advice at the earliest opportunity if they notice any change in their pet’s health.