RSPCA: Five year pet ban for couple who kept guinea pigs in vivarium with rotting fruit

A North Yorkshire couple who left their guinea pigs in a hot enclosure with rotting fruit - and failed to treat their other pet’s flea infestations and ear infections - have been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Mark Cooper, 35, and Jade Nichols, 34, were both sentenced last week at Teesside Magistrates Court, after earlier admitting to failing to meet the needs of their animals in an RSPCA-led prosecution. On top of the five year animal bans, the pair were also handed 12-month community orders, and ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard that RSPCA animal rescue officer Shane Lynn had visited the couple’s Saltburn home in September last year, after animal welfare concerns were reported to the charity. There, he found two guinea pigs called Casper and Autumn living in a glass vivarium - littered with rotting fruit and no obvious ventilation.

“The water bottle had fallen over so they were unable to drink from it,” he continued. “I opened the door and stuck my head inside. The smell of the rotting fruit on the bottom was quite overpowering and the heat inside the vivarium was very noticeable.”

He also found Paris, an 11-year-old French bulldog who was deaf and only had one eye, lying in a bed in the kitchen. She had severe thickening to the inside of her ears, ‘cherry eye’ and noticeable reddening on her feet where she had been chewing them. 

“I then saw two Persian cats in a small bathroom, there was a smell of ammonia and the litter tray was dirty. Upon stroking a grey cat called Lady, it was obvious that she was underweight,” the RSPCA officer said in his written evidence to the court. “Her spine and ribs could be easily felt and Nichols told me that this cat had had two kittens a few months ago but was not producing milk so they died at four weeks-old.”

The second cat, Abbey, was also thin, had fur loss on the side of her body and “scabby” feeling skin from an old wound. The court heard the officer was shown some ear drops, a bottle of flea spray and an online order for ‘ear mite blaster,’ but Nichols confirmed that neither of the cats or the dog had seen a vet for their health problems. Cooper also told officers he had steroids for Paris’ itching, but another officer said the bottle’s label was faded - and it was still half full.

The pair claimed someone was coming round regularly to treat the animals for fleas and worms and they had tried to get the cats seen at a number of local vets, but no-one had any appointments. However, enquiries revealed that the vet practice where Nichols said they were registered hadn't been contacted to see the cats - and would have booked them in if they had asked.

The animals were taken for vet care, where it was confirmed that Abbey, Lady and Paris were all suffering - and the guinea pigs were likely to suffer too if their circumstances didn’t change. They were all taken into the possession of the police, with their ongoing care being transferred to the RSPCA. 

The bulldog’s remaining eye and ear canals were so badly damaged all would have had to be removed, so she was put to sleep to prevent further suffering. Both cats had active flea infestations, hair loss and scabs. Abbey also had a 2 cm abscess on her neck, likely caused by scratching herself from fleas. They both put on a kilo - almost half their weight - once they received appropriate care. 

Both cats later regrew their fur, and have since found new homes. The guinea pig pair were also rehomed together after reaching a healthy weight.