A dog owner who allowed her dog to be mutilated by having his ears cropped has been banned from keeping dogs for ten years.
Chantelle Baptiste of Wyeth Close, Taplow, Maidenhead, pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Police were joined by RSPCA Inspectors when they carried out a warrant at her address after concerns were raised about the welfare of a dog named Haze.
He was found with ears that had been cropped. Images from mobile phones showed that Haze had his ears cropped while in Baptiste’s care.
RSPCA Inspector Prisca Giddens, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Ear cropping is a painful and illegal procedure that carries no benefits at all to the dogs. We hope this case sends a strong message to anyone involved with ear cropping that this will not be tolerated.”
In mitigation, Baptiste took full responsibility and was remorseful.
Alongside the ten year disqualification from keeping dogs, which can not be appealed for five years, she was also sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work by Reading Magistrates’ Court.
Baptiste must also pay £200 to be paid at a rate of £20 per month starting from 6th December 2024.
