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Woman kept 'puppies in suitcases'
18 Nov 2009A dog breeder will be sentenced today for keeping 15 dead and dying puppies in suitcases in a locked cupboard under her stairs.
Amanda Cheadle, 58, stacked the closed cases on top of one another at her farmhouse, causing the animals starvation, dehydration and suffocation.
Despite efforts to revive the seven live puppies, two had to be put down at the property while another was put down at an RSPCA shelter.
She was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and neglect between August 2008 and February this year following a four-day trial at Lewes Magistrates' Court last month.
The court heard that a member of the public raised the alarm about the squalid conditions the dogs were kept in at her property in Bell Lane, Fletching, near Uckfield, East Sussex.
When officers visited, they found 16 adult dogs and 10 puppies in a double garage with limited natural light, limited ventilation and hazards such as an armchair with springs protruding.
Food and water bowls were placed on top of compacted faeces and appeared contaminated, and there was nowhere for the dogs to rest or sleep.
Cheadle gave up ownership of 10 puppies and six dogs, leaving her with 10 dogs which the RSPCA revisited to check on any improvements.
On one of their subsequent visits dogs were heard whining and two suitcases were then found locked in a cupboard under the stairs containing the dead and dying puppies.
The court was told that the four puppies in one case had been dead between two and 20 hours, and were about three days old. The other one in the smaller case was considerably smaller and been dead "some time".
Magistrates concluded that Cheadle intentionally killed or intended to kill the puppies by placing them in the suitcases, thus causing starvation, dehydration and suffocation.
Also found at the house was a ginger kitten with an eye condition, which they said any reasonable owner would have sought veterinary advice for.
After finding her guilty in her absence, magistrates said her offending fell within "the highest level of seriousness" and indicated she faced jail after issuing a warrant without bail.
Cheadle will be sentenced at Lewes Magistrates' Court from 10am.
Reader views (5)
Its about time the RSPCA DID THEIR JOB PROPERLY and ANY amountof cruelty should be dealt with straight away........how can they leave 10 dogs with this evel women expecting her to change her ways.....I DON' THINK SO.....
- Herd, gy, 20/11/2009 13:53
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It's nice to know the authorities are on the case.
- Steve, London, 19/11/2009 09:08
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Evil sick woman, deserves to have a taste of her own medicine.
- B Lane, London, 18/11/2009 16:47
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Let's put Amanda Cheadle in a locked suitcase under the stairs and see if she likes it!
People like her really make me sick.
- Lee, London, 18/11/2009 12:53
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What is wrong with The RSPCA how could they allow this woman to still hold onto 10 dogs after they took the others away ?. They could see the horrific conditions these poor creatures were living in but still allowed this woman to keep 10 more dogs are they MAD !. These poor dogs must have suffered an awful death which could have been prevented . No doubt she will be banned for 10 years from keeping animals and given a fine it makes me sick ! I wish I could meet her I'd give her some proper justice
- Linda Cliff, Londonn, 18/11/2009 10:34
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