‘Most broken animal I’ve ever seen’: Farm owner banned for neglecting more than 450 animals
More than 450 neglected animals have been rescued from a farm in Nottinghamshire and many have to sleep to end their pain.
Farm owner Lee Hayes, about 70 horses and donkeys, more than 50 dogs and 19 different animal species containing 170 guinea pigs were rescued after a 12 -month imprisonment and a life -long animal ban.
None of the animals had taken veterinarian care, many of them were left in parasites, rotting feet, diseases and storage of feces, urine and maggots.
The case was revealed after visiting the farm in 2023 to investigate allegations about a stolen dog and to increase concerns about the conditions of animals.
A Nottinghamshire police officer was overcome with a bad smell when entering a barn and found many whining dogs ”.
The RSPCA was able to secure an order and made an old German shepherd who struggled to walk, a cockpit, a rooster in a need for hernia surgery, and a series of “sad” discovery including puppies in the feces.
Seven donkeys had chronic to -nail problems when a series of low and did not get dental care, and half of the seized 59 horses were weak bodies. A donkey was so lifted, many of them lived under snap conditions in pregnant and dirty dark stables.
Five dogs are connected to the outdoor huts, while 40 crowded stables, three cats were locked in a dirty barn and five kittens with cat flu were found in a truck.
Veteriner Olivia Speight said: “The environment in the dogs did not have a very natural light and the smell of ammonia was strong. There was no suitable beds in the kennels and there was a high contamination with feces and urine.
“This property was not listed as a registered reproductive organization, but its installation was more like a pet house.”
Hayes was also kept in low heavy birds and duckles, poppy and rabbits, as well as mice living in crowded cages, pigmy squirrels and hamsters.
A Congo Gray parrot was so stressful that he had removed half of his feathers, a Hamster had to sleep immediately.
In addition, weakened cows, low weight birds and chickens were thirsty and there were low weight turtles held in a vivarium invaded with fruit flies. Only 12 of the 107 birds held on the farm had access to clean water, a cage contained a pile of dead birds.
Speaking in his defense, John Hayes said for Hayes: “He was overwhelmed by the situation he had found in a while, he did not behave maliciously. All the animals he card came from people who knew that he would take them.
“He did not have the ability to say ‘no’. RSPCA recovery should accept the help because he noticed a series of animals that he needed to treat.”
Hayes’ girlfriend Tammy Heath was sentenced to a 13 -week imprisonment, and after he was found guilty of animal welfare for two dogs, he was banned from holding dogs.
The regional judge told Hayes: “When the RSPCA and the police arrived, they could not find any development.
“Many of them could be easily prevented, but you willingly neglected hundreds of animals of a wide variety of animals. You lack the insight in the care of animals and when it comes to welfare of animals, you offer a risk of re -accusation”
RSPCA Inspector Baker, who led the operation, said, “All these animals were absolutely terrible. The smell of fertilizers was very crushing when you passed through the door and in terrible conditions.
“There was a very lame cow tied to one of the most broken animals I’ve ever seen.
“There were very few signs of all kinds of animal husbandry.
“Keeping a large number of animals in such a place is never a good idea, because it is unlikely to have the necessary resources to give them a good life. The defendant also allowed the number of animals to grow, because the mare was mixed with stallions and the bitch was matched with dogs.
“Together with the Nottinghamshire police, we are grateful for the bestowal that means that we can organize the rescue of more than 450 animals with the help of our charity partners, which emphasizes how bad conditions are worsening.
“We were divided into teams for two days to cope with different species, and all animals were systematically checked, and then there was a secure accommodation in which many have been treated for their discomfort and have provided a good improvement since then.”
