On July 4, 2025, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton attended the home of Andrew Matthews with police to investigate reports that he had been physically and verbally abusing his crossbreed dog, Lola.
Witnesses reported hearing Matthews making threats to kill the animal. Smacking sounds were heard followed by the cries of a dog.
In a statement to the court, ARO Milton said that she found that Lola was not able to bear weight on her right front leg. She was suffering with lameness in both her forelegs, with swelling to the ankle joint particularly prominent in her right limb.
ARO Milton noticed Lola had a “significant swelling” on the wrist of the right leg.
Matthews admitted he had not taken the dog to a vets in the seven years he had kept her.
The dog was seized and taken into the care of the RSPCA.
A vet who examined Lola said both her wrists were affected by degenerative joint disease. X-rays showed there were bony changes around the dog’s right wrist joint which indicated an ongoing arthritis-related issue.
She also had multiple scars over her muzzle, elbow and wrists, cause unexplained.
She was put on an extensive course of pain relief, but she was still unable to bear weight on the legs more than a month later and became lame after short walks. With such a poor prognosis, Lola was put to sleep on humane grounds.
The attending vet said: “Lola’s breed and age would normally make her a very active dog, but I felt if she was still unable to walk and exercise anywhere near normally while still on three different pain relief medications she would likely suffer ongoing pain and would be unlikely to be able to lead a normal life fulfilling her physical needs.”
The vet added: “The dog was in obvious pain such that a reasonable owner should have sought veterinary attention, which was separate to the possibility raised by witnesses that the owner may have been the cause of at least some of the dog’s pain.
“With the bony changes evident and remarked upon as moderate to marked by the specialist, these changes would have taken weeks to months to get to that stage at least with obvious lameness and pain for weeks at least, but likely longer.”
Matthews pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on February 24, 2026.
In mitigation, the court heard he struggled with alcoholism and was drunk at the time of the incident.
Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer, Inspector Gemma Cooper said: “Poor Lola’s lameness was obvious and was prolonged, but the defendant failed to get her seen by a vet. Owners have a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide prompt vet treatment for their pets.”
Sentenced to a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; year-long alcohol treatment programme;15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) Days; court costs of £400. Lifetime ban.