Gosport woman, 60, banned from keeping pets for 20

Margaret Porter, 60, left six animals - some with rotting teeth and matted hair - with the team at Stubbington Ark after turning up in a taxi with six dog carriers on July 16, 2022.

She said she "she wouldn’t know" if they had been to the vets and gave fake details, claiming they belonged to her sister "Theresa" who she told staff had run away.

The RSPCA immediately started investigating - and just days later Gosport's borough council raised the alarm over dogs at her home in Dolman Road, Gosport.

Gosport woman Margaret Porter, 60, has been handed a ban on owning pets after two dogs had to be euthanised. (Image: RSPCA)

A stray dog had been taken to a vet with two broken legs on June 20, 2022, and the next day Porter called the council saying she had found a different stray in Walpole Park, Gosport.

One of the dogs had two broken legs on the same side of the body that were not deemed accidental, the RSPCA said.

The animal welfare charity prosecuted Porter who admitted five animal welfare offences and was handed a one-year jail term suspended for 12 months. She must pay a victim surcharge of £149 and £250 costs and complete 15 rehabilitation days.

RSPCA Inspector Jan Edwards said: “Dogs feel pain and suffering just like we do and always deserve to be shown kindness and compassion.

"Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they need it."

The dogs now they are healthier (Image: RSPCA) The dogs were:

Dustin, a terrier, poodle cross had clumps of dirty matted hair hung around his four feet, there was matted hair on his belly area, and his nails were long.

Hopper, a terrier, poodle cross, had an unkempt coat and there were matts with dirt build up on the belly, his nails were long on each foot and  he had tartar build up and teeth were missing.   Max, a female terrier, had long nails, matted dirty clumps of hair on the belly, and matted hair on the front right leg.

Ellie, a terrier cross poodle, had an unkempt long coat with some matting, teeth missing, tartar build up. Her rear left hind leg was disabled and withered with the leg being held up from the hip area. Her fur was also dirty and matted.

Gosport woman Margaret Porter, 60, has been handed a ban on owning pets after two dogs had to be euthanised. (Image: RSPCA)

Robin, a female terrier cross poodle cross, had an unkempt coat with felted dirty matts hanging from her hind legs. All her nails were long and her right hind leg was disabled and not able to bear weight.

Nancy, a female terrier cross, had long hair on all feet and matted long dirty clumps. She had rotten and missing teeth and her left hind leg was disabled and she wasn't able to bear weight on it. She also had a nail ingrowing into the pad on the disabled leg.

Porter was identified from CCTV footage and officers visited her home to try and establish if more animals were at the address.

Two more dogs, Poppy and Dante, were rescued.

The surviving dogs have now been rehomed by the RSPCA.