Two dog owners from the UK are facing possible jail time after being charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty that ultimately led to the death of their English Sheepdog, Floyd, who had become cocooned in 28 pounds of hair, feces and filth.
Floyd is pictured here before 28 pounds of hair, feces and filth were removed from his body.
Staff at the Wood Green Animal Shelter discovered the five-year-old English Sheepdog abandoned on their premises and struggled for over an hour to groom him, removing 28 pounds of matted and filthy hair that hid a body covered in open sores. His cocoon of hair all but nearly prohibited Floyd from seeing, hearing or using the bathroom properly.
The dog suffered from mange, chronic eye and ear infections, painful two-inch toenails and an untreated tumor in his mouth. Despite the best efforts of the Wood Green Animal Shelter to save his life, Floyd was humanely euthanized by the attending veterinarian due to medical complications.
Floyd is seen here shortly before he was put down for medical complications.
Floyd was owned by David and Marjorie Massey and in court the couple admitted to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. They are facing possible jail time for the willful neglect of Floyd which was echoed by the Chair of the bench, Dr. Disney-Durrant, who told the couple that “Because of the length of abuse in this case I have to warn you we will be considering a custodial sentence.”
David and Majorie Massey owned Floyd since he was a puppy and told the court that they hired professional groomers to care for Floyd’s coat until about a year ago, at which time they could no longer afford the care. English Sheepdogs have hair that grows approximately an inch a month and they require a thorough grooming at least once a week which can take from one to three hours.
Mr. & Mrs. Massey allegedly became embarrassed about his condition, and it was Mr. Massey who told the court that he had tied Floyd to the Wood Green Animal Shelter in the middle of the night, and then called police to let them know he was there.
Photos credits (SWNS)
About the author: Tawnee Preisner of Oroville, California is the Vice President of Horse Plus Humane Society. She co-authors the daily blog for Horse Plus Humane Society in addition to being featured in many news articles and TV spots about animal welfare. Since Co-Founding Horse Plus Humane Society in 2003 she has rescued over 2,000 horses out of the slaughter pipeline and has founded many ground breaking programs for horse welfare.
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