A 15-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Dolci was found dead after being left alone and barricaded inside a downstairs toilet while suffering from multiple serious illnesses.
RSPCA inspectors discovered the heartbreaking scene at a property in Dawlish after receiving reports of concerns about the dog’s welfare.
According to investigators, owner Louise Cleave, 39, admitted she had isolated Dolci in the toilet when the elderly dog became too weak. She later told inspectors she was afraid to check whether the dog had died and claimed she could not afford veterinary treatment.
When inspectors arrived, they found the toilet door blocked by furniture and flooring materials. Inside, Dolci was lying lifeless in her bed.
A veterinary examination revealed the dog had been suffering from several untreated medical conditions, including kidney disease, a severe skin disorder, and pyometra — a potentially fatal infection of the womb.
Experts concluded Dolci died from septicaemia, septic shock, and kidney failure after being left without urgent medical attention. They also stated the dog would have suffered significant pain, distress, and mental anguish while confined alone for days.
A post-mortem examination found Dolci severely underweight, weighing just 10 kilograms, with her ribs, spine, and hip bones visibly protruding. Veterinarians described the amount of infected fluid caused by the untreated pyometra — approximately two litres — as “astonishing.”
Cleave admitted causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide proper veterinary care.
She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, and must pay £528 in costs.
The court also imposed a lifetime ban on her owning or caring for animals, with no opportunity to appeal the disqualification for at least 10 years.
🐾 Rest in peace, Dolci.
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