William Hayden jailed after Flushe died with just leather in stomach. Tasia survived, gaining weight after rescue.
One dog, Flushe, died and they found leather in Flushe’s stomach. His ribs stuck out prominently. The news chose not to show the upsetting photos.
The other dog, Tasia, lived and gained weight after getting proper food. She almost doubled her weight in just one month.
Hayden went to court on January 27 and the court gave him jail time of eight and ten months for breaking animal welfare laws. He cannot own animals for ten years. The vet said Flushe starved and only had leather in his stomach.
An RSPCA inspector, Gemma Lynch, went to his home with police on January 12, 2023 after people reported concerns about the dogs. No one answered, but police helped them get inside. The house seemed empty, although they saw dog food and a crate.
Someone told the inspector about Tasia, explaining that a person Hayden knew took her. They agreed for the inspector to see her and then revealed the other dog was buried under a sofa in the garden.
Inspector Lynch spoke in court, explaining, “Tasia was very skinny”, noting her hips, ribs, and spine showed. “She looked nervous too.” She was taken to a vet who said she suffered.
Hayden turned himself in on January 16 and showed videos of the dogs from December 29, 2022. The videos showed the dogs looking thin while eating.
Hayden said he tried flea and worm treatments, claiming they did not work. He further stated that someone else cared for the dogs while he was in the hospital and Flushe died and got buried then.