ABIGAIL BARKER – LEEDS Abigail Barker, 32, from Middleton, Leeds LS10 – failed …

❌ABIGAIL BARKER – LEEDS❌

Abigail Barker, 32, from Middleton, Leeds LS10 – failed to treat her French bulldog’s ailments and allowed her to become malnourished.

Barker, also a backyard breeder, was found guilty of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to the dog, known as Cookie.

The court was told that RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Kris Walker went to Barker’s house on January 12, 2024, to check on the welfare of a dog living at the address.

In his written evidence to the court, Mr Walker said: “I saw a fawn female French bulldog type dog named Cookie in the kitchen area of the property.

“She appeared to be a good body weight, and was bright and alert, however, she had an obvious skin condition.

“There was hair loss over her back, her skin was sore on her feet and they were red and swollen.”

The court was told that Barker, who had previously treated Cookie with various over-the-counter remedies, was given an improvement notice by the officer and warned that she must take Cookie back to see a vet.

Mr Walker visited Barker again in February 2024 to check if the advice had been followed. Sadly she had failed to do so and Cookie’s condition had deteriorated further.

The skin on her legs was red raw and smelled strongly of infection. Her ears were sore and she had lost weight and appeared despondent.

Barker told the RSPCA officer that money was no issue but that she didn’t drive, and permitted Mr Walker to remove Cookie from the property and take her for urgent veterinary treatment.

The veterinarian who examined Cookie noted that she weighed 10.7kg and assigned her a body condition score of two out of nine. Cookie’s ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvic bones were easily visible, and she had extensive skin lesions affecting her face, ears, trunk, and legs.

The vet also found that Cookie’s facial folds were red and inflamed with yellow discharge, her ears severely thickened and the canals narrow and infected.

Cookie also had significant hair loss around her eyes, ears, abdomen, limbs, and toes. The vet noted that the thickening of the skin in these areas indicated severe and chronic self-trauma from scratching and licking. Additionally, her nails were visibly overgrown and curling into the floor.

Blood test results showed no underlying medical issues contributing to her poor body condition, which was likely a result of insufficient food.

Cookie was signed over to the RSPCA during the investigation, where she was cared for by a fosterer from the RSPCA Burton upon Trent & District Branch who later decided to adopt her.

Two other dogs belonging to Barker have also been rehomed.

Sentencing | 12 month community order with up to 15 days of rehabilitation, fines and costs totalling £364. Banned from keeping animals for seven years but can appeal after five years.