A woman has been permanently prohibited from owning animals after her three pet dogs were discovered “mummified” at her residence due to her failure to feed them or provide water over an extended period, a court was told.
In July of last year, RSPCA Cymru Inspector Simon Evans visited a property in Bettws, Newport. He found kennels in the garden housing the remains of three French Bulldogs named Precious, Destiny and Diamond.
Jamila Michaela Diane Fletcher-Oates, 42, of Dart Road, Bettws, informed Inspector Evans that the dogs had been deceased for several months but she hadn’t removed their bodies as she was mourning the loss of her wife.
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She admitted to him that none of the dogs had received any veterinary care before their deaths. The remains of one of the French Bulldogs were found encased in three bags, whilst the remains of the other two were located in a small travel cage, reports Wales Online.
The images provided by RSPCA Cymru are too graphic and disturbing to publish in full – the one we have used has been heavily pixelated.
“At the bottom of the garden, largely secluded from the rest of the house, were two purpose built, steel runs, with solid roofs,” stated Inspector Evans. “Outside the first kennel was a black bag in which, I had been informed, was the body of the dog Precious.
“In the second kennel, immediately next to the first, was a small travel cage which contained the desiccated bodies of two further dogs, both French Bulldogs, with the furthest dog being slightly smaller than the nearer one. Both dogs had decomposed and were stuck to a blanket that lined the cage.
“I then opened up the bag containing the body of the dog Precious which lay outside the first run. There were, in fact, three bags all inside each other and which contained the body of the dog.
“The body was again desiccated and all of the hips and ribs were clearly visible. The dog’s coat was sloughing off as I handled it and I noted maggots and fly egg cases over the body.”
The bodies were retrieved and all three carcasses were examined by a vet who stated all were presented as “mummified”. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.
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The vet stated Destiny and Diamond would have perished from dehydration, whilst Precious suffered some organ failure that led to her death shortly afterwards.
During an interview with RSPCA Cymru, Fletcher-Oates stated there was a six-day period in April last year when she failed to attend to her dogs and that they went without food or water during this time. This came after the death of her wife in February 2024.
She said when she eventually checked on the dogs, Destiny and Diamond had died and Precious – despite then being fed and given water – died within two to three weeks.
The dogs’ bodies were then left where they were until a few days before Inspector Evans arrived at the property. During the interview, Fletcher-Oates expressed remorse for her actions.
Fletcher-Oates appeared at a sentencing hearing at Newport Magistrates’ Court last week after previously pleading guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act – namely that she caused unnecessary suffering to three dogs.
She was handed a 20-week prison sentence, which was suspended for a period of 12 months, and ordered to pay £700 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. She was also banned from keeping any animals for the rest of her life.
Following sentencing, Inspector Evans said: “This is a heartbreaking case on many levels.
“Ultimately three dogs suffered and died after their owner failed to care for them and give them their basic needs. We would urge anyone struggling to seek help.”
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