A dead dog was found in the kitchen of the home, and the woman’s children were described as ‘pale, weak and drowsy’
20:03, 08 Apr 2026
(Image: Media Wales)
A mother had her children taken into care after police and social services found a dead dog in her kitchen and the floor covered in faeces. Her children were described as “pale, weak and drowsy”, and one was found with head lice, sores and was “dirty”.
The woman, who was living in Cardiff, was visited by social workers at her home due to concerns about the welfare of her children, and the police were called in order to gain access to her property. The children had not attended school and there were concerns about the conditions they were living in.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard social services managed to gain access to the property but the police were called again to assist in removing the children from the house. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter
The court heard the floor was covered in dog and cat faeces, there was no food in the fridge, and the genuine state of the property was “untidy”.
The most shocking discovery was a dead dog in the kitchen, the defendant’s pet, and there was also broken glass on the floor.
The children were described as “pale, weak, and drowsy” and social workers struggled to keep them awake.
One of the children had head lice, sores and was “dirty”. Another child was wearing a soiled nappy.
The defendant was questioned by the RSPCA and said she had seen the dog alive the day before, but an examination revealed the dog had been dead for around a week.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said the dog had been “starved” for many weeks. The house smelt of urine and faeces, and no food had been left out for the dog or three cats also living at the property.
It later transpired the victim had moved out of the property, but had left the pets locked inside. The cats had not suffered any major injuries and were later rehomed.
The woman said she had been struggling with her mental health following the death of her brother, and she also suffered the bereavement of her mother at a young age, which left her “socially isolated”.
The defendant later pleaded guilty to three counts of causing/assaulting/ill treating/neglecting/abandoning of child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury, and two offences under section nine of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The court heard she has three previous convictions for dissimilar offences.
In mitigation, Emma Harris said her client was “remorseful” for her actions, and had experienced a number of traumatic events during her life, which left her finding it difficult to cope.
Ms Harris said the defendant’s mental health became “increasingly fragile”, and it was a case where she was unable to care for her children and pets, not that she was unwilling to care for them.
Sentencing, Judge Christopher Felstead said the state of the house was “quite frankly disgusting” and described the smell of the property as “overwhelming”.
The defendant was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
She was also made subject to a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and was disqualified from keeping animals for two years.
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
