Wigan magistrate in pet dog cruelty shame

Gail Bradshaw, 64, a justice at the borough’s courts for the past 30 years who has deliberated on RSPCA cases - and 29-year-old Nicola Bradshaw appeared before Preston magistrates’ for a two-day trial.

The pair, of Minehead Avenue, Leigh, were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to two West Highland white terriers called Poppy and Holly, by failing to provide proper and necessary care and attention for their chronic and severe skin conditions.

RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “The severity of the skin conditions and fur loss suffered by these dogs was the worst I’ve seen in my 15-year career.

“They were in an absolutely shocking state.

“When I first saw Poppy she was wearing a filthy baby jumper.

“Gail Bradshaw said she put it on her to keep her warm and to stop her scratching herself raw.

“When the vet tried to remove the jumper it had stuck to Poppy’s weeping skin around her armpits, chest and front legs.” The court heard that visits to the vets with Poppy in 2014 and 2015 established the cause of her fur loss and skin infection but the Bradshaws were inconsistent in following the treatment plans.

When the advice was followed improvements were seen but the lack of consistency in following the treatment properly would cause Poppy to deteriorate again.

A new treatment plan was put in place in March 2015 by the vet with the advice to return in seven to 10 days but Poppy was never taken back.

Insp McDonald said: “Gail Bradshaw said she didn’t think the vet treatment was working so decided to self treat the condition after seeking advice from the internet and friends.

“However over the following two years Poppy’s condition deteriorated to the state she was found in when I attended.

“When Holly started to get similar symptoms in early 2017 she was never taken to the vet. This is despite both dogs having ‘ultimate’ Petplan insurance which could have covered the treatment.”

Upon conviction, magistrates said that Gail Bradshaw’s recollection of the previous vet visits were vague and that she offered no credible explanation for not following the treatment plans or seeking further vet treatment.

Once Poppy and Holly came into RSPCA care their conditions were said to have improved rapidly, where they remain pending the outcome of the case.

In respect of Nicola Bradshaw, who declined to give evidence or be cross-examined, they said that she had declined to offer any evidence or explanation.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday May 8, again at Preston Magistrates’ Court for a pre-sentencing report.