- Liverpool, United Kingdom -
On April 14, at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, 39-years-old ALAN PACKENHAM (pictured) “was sentenced after pleading guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and one of failing to take steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met,” reports Echo.
Magistrates sentenced PACKENHAM to a 16-week prison term suspended for 12 months.
PACKENHAM was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 court costs and a victim surcharge of £95.
PACKENHAM “was also banned for life from owning animals.”
This sentence puts an end to a heartbreaking case in which officials with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), discovered 37 animals who were being kept in “filthy, unhygienic conditions” in PACKENHAM’s residence in Thornton.
It all started when the RSPCA were alerted by a member of the public to the situation in the home.
On August 31, 2021, RSPCA inspectors Lisa Lupson, Anthony Joynes and Nadine Pengilly responded to the property and as soon as they entered, they were hit by an “overpowering stench of feces and urine.”
Inside the home investigators found 20 cats, 3 kittens, 3 German shepherds, 1 crossbreed dog, 3 ferrets, 2 fish, and 5 snakes living in deplorable conditions.
2 German shepherds were found muzzled.
3 ferrets were located in a filthy rabbit hutch and in a bedroom, inspectors found the carcasses of 4 snakes left to rot.
According to the inspectors, none of the vivariums were on and inside one of them, was a black snake who appeared to be coiled around a log and to have just died in that position.
2 female cats were found in the bathroom; one of them was severely underweight.
In the same bathroom, inside an open drawer were 3 kittens who were infested with fleas and in need of immediate medical attention.
All five furbabies were taken to a vet but two kittens died within minutes of arrival.
Inspector Lupson returned to the property on two occasions to catch 14 of the cats and remove the 4 dogs. Sadly, another cat was found to have died.
The cats and dogs were placed in the care of an RSPCA animal center and approved kennels, while the ferrets and a corn snake were taken to specialist rescue centers.
Veterinary surgeon Vanessa Whitfield, based at the RSPCA's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, concluded the three kittens, five of the cats and two of the German shepherds had all suffered at the hands of PACKENHAM.
Dr. Whitfield estimated that the maltreatment of the animals by PACKENHAM, will have “persisted for many months or even years.”
She said that PACKENHAM had also failed to provide a hygienic environment, a suitable amount of space, food and water, places for the animals to rest and play and to urinate and defecate, and suitable veterinary care.
UK Database has published a picture of ALAN PACKENHAM (below) and has identified him as “An Ex special Constable.” (Special constables are volunteer police officers.)
I have sent out a few emails and requested a mugshot of ALAN PACKENHAM.
I will add it to the article should I receive it.
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