Ban for owner who kept dogs 'in squalid conditions'

A man has been banned from keeping dogs for 10 years after pleading guilty to harming three dogs.

Police searched the "squalid" Doncaster home of Christopher Moorhouse, 34, in May 2024 and found three dogs living in "appalling conditions".

Moorhouse, of King's Crescent, Edlington, was arrested at the scene and later charged with three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

He was sentenced at Doncaster Magistrates' Court last on 21 May, when he received a community order banning him from keeping animals for a decade. He was also fined £200, and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and an additional £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Acting police sergeant Sam Bush, who was the officer in charge of this case, said:

"Moorhouse proved himself to be the complete opposite of a responsible dog owner by allowing his pets to live in appalling conditions.

"I am glad we were able to intervene and act in the best interests of the animals, to rescue them from these squalid conditions - and I am especially pleased to say that one of the dogs has been successfully rehomed.

"I hope this sends out a clear message to anyone neglecting their pets that if people aren't taking the necessary steps we would expect to look after their animals, then this can result in a prosecution and an appearance before the courts."

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