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Gloucestershire Independent
February 20, 2014
Reliance House Long Street, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 4LS
Publisher
Editor Sue Smith Email
Julia Lancett 01453 769411
sue.smith@
stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk
Senior Advertisement Manager Debra Orr
Email
debra.orr@gazetteseries.co.uk
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The Gloucestershire Independent strives to operate to the highest professional standards. We aim to provide readers with a news and Information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. We adhere to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you find an error, or wish to comment on any other aspect of our coverage, please email, write or telephone the editor at the address above. If you have a query relating to delivery of the newspaper Please call 01633 777011.
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Mumis banned from owning animals after ‘starving’ dog
A MOTHER has been banned from owning animals after she let her dog starve to half its body weight. Mum-of-three Zoe Maxwell,
40, of Bath Road, Nailsworth, and Michael Mayo, 24, of Stroud Road, Gloucester, were both found guilty of causing unnecessary suffer- ing to a Staffordshire bull terrier. They were each sentenced
to 18 weeks in custody which was suspended for 12 months and disqualified from owning animals indefinitely at Chel- tenham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. District Judge Lynne Mat- thews said: “Here we have a dog starved for four weeks. This was frankly appalling. “If you are under any mis- apprehension as to why you are here, it is because society will not put up with people in- flicting cruelty on animals.” The Staffie, called Kai, was rescued after escaping from the defendant’s previous home in Lawnside, Nails- worth, in December 2012, the court heard. Nick Sutton, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “Police visited the property
on December 12 and saw two cages in the living room with a dog in each. “The next day, animal wel-
fare officers at Stroud Dis- trict Council were called af- ter a man found a stray dog. “She went to his address
and saw a severely emaciated animal.” Kai was taken to Clock- house Vets and taken in by the RSPCA. The court heard it was 11kg underweight, weighing just 13.9kg. Vet Paul Mitchell said: “In
my opinion this dog had been malnourished for consider- able time. His nutritional needs had not been met for at least four weeks, he was not given sufficient food.” The court heard that Max-
well could not cope with the dog and gave him to Mayo, her daughter’s partner. Mr Sutton said: “They must
have seen this animal slowly starving when in their pos- session. “Between themselves what-
ever the situation was, it was their duty to do something. “Luckily, the dog escaped
and was picked up by a car- ing person. If that had not
Kai weighed just 13.9kg when he was rescued by animal welfare officers. (3743953)
happened, this dog would not be alive now.” Kai has since been re- homed and is living with new owners in Italy. Judge Matthews said: “This dog was starved and would have starved to death had it not escaped. I am told by a vet that the poor dog would have suf-
fered the sensation of se- vere hunger. “The story has a happy ending for the dog though and I have seen what he looks like now with own- ers taking care of him.” The pair must also com-
plete 140 hours of unpaid work. Mayo must pay £1,000 costs plus an £80
Work on railway line veers off track
WORK on the Swindon to Kemble train line has been derailed as the pro- ject is now due to come in months behind sched- ule.
The £45 million project
is doubling the track along 12 miles of the rail network to cope with in- creased demand, as train usage overall in the West Country is due to in- crease by 44 per cent by
2019. But Network Rail has now said the devel- opment was not a priori- ty, and it has had to push the completion date back until August. Patrick Hallgate, the route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Over the last 40 to 50 years the embankment surrounding the track has worn away, which has caused the line to
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migrate into the middle. “This project is more
than just putting a track down. It is five individu- al civil engineering pro- jects. The western opera- tion is double the level of investment than the west coast.” Justin Tomlinson, MP
for North Swindon, said: “It’s disappointing. The upgrade is essential to boosting our economy.”
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victim surcharge while Maxwell was ordered to pay £400 costs. Speaking after the case,
a spokesman for the RSP- CA said: “We are very pleased with the strong sentence and the message it sends out to people who think they can neglect an animal.”
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