In a disturbing discovery on a rural property, authorities found decaying horse carcasses in the company of emaciated dogs on the brink of death. Kerry Anne Pickersgill, aged 48, stood before a court facing charges of neglecting more than 40 animals, as RSPCA investigators recounted scenes of squalor and mistreatment at the farm where she resided with her 25-year-old daughter, Ellie Newby.
Both Pickersgill and Newby, residents of a secluded estate in County Durham, were sentenced for their involvement in the appalling conditions uncovered by inspectors from the RSPCA and the World Horse Welfare. The investigation revealed 22 malnourished horses living among deceased animals in unsanitary surroundings, with some horses collapsing due to lack of nourishment and illness.
Simultaneously, authorities discovered 21 dogs confined in sheds, enduring darkness, feces-infested fur, and paw sores from standing in hazardous waste. During a court session in October, Pickersgill admitted to multiple charges of animal cruelty and breaching previous bans on animal ownership. Newby confessed to offenses related to two dogs.
The sentencing, presided over by Judge Peter Makepiece KC at Durham Crown Court, followed reports from a council inspector who stumbled upon the distressing scene of dead and ailing horses on the farm. Concerns extended to numerous dogs housed in inadequate conditions within sheds, stables, and trailers.
Describing the harrowing scenes witnessed at the farm, RSPCA Inspector Ian Smith recounted finding a stable with a neglected foal and its deceased mother surrounded by filth. He also detailed the dire conditions of another shed housing horses in distressing states, some of which were deceased.
The welfare of the dogs was equally troubling, as Inspector Heidi Cleaver testified about the unsanitary and cramped living spaces the dogs endured, filled with feces and devoid of clean bedding or water. Inspector Clare Wilson highlighted the dogs’ emaciated and neglected state, emphasizing the dire need for intervention.
Sixteen horses were promptly relocated to receive urgent veterinary care, with eight deemed unfit for recovery and recommended for humane euthanasia. The surviving horses, found in various stages of malnourishment, were provided with veterinary attention to address their critical health conditions.
The rescued dogs, plagued by health issues such as matted coats and dental problems, were rehabilitated and rehomed by RSPCA facilities. The surviving horses, under the care of World Horse Welfare, showed significant improvement. Pickersgill received a suspended prison sentence, rehabilitation activities, unpaid work, and a mental health treatment order, while Newby was handed a community order, unpaid work, and a dog ownership ban.
In the aftermath of the sentencing, Inspector Cleaver expressed profound shock at the distressing conditions, echoing the sentiment of Seema Ritson from World Horse Welfare, who described the haunting nature of the suffering witnessed at the site.
