Telford pets pair admit to flouting animal ban

A brother and sister banned from keeping animals were today convicted of keeping three dogs and eight cats at their home in Telford.

Julie Geanno and Stephen Watton were living in Wildwood, Woodside, when the RSPCA discovered the animals on November 23 last year.

The pair were given a life ban in 2009 after officers found three emaciated dogs, the remains of a cat and two other dogs that died of starvation buried in their back garden.

At Telford Magistrates Court today Geanno, 39, and Watton, 50, now of Bishopvale, Brookside, admitted breaching their disqualification from keeping animals.

Mr Roger Price, for the RSPCA, said there were three dogs, eight cats and a budgie in the house when the inspector visited.

“All the animals belonged to Miss Geanno’s daughter Sarah. During interview, Miss Geanno explained that her daughter had moved in with her with her pets after a relationship breakdown,” Mr Price said.

“Mr Watton was living with Sarah, his niece, and so moved in as well.

“Three weeks later Sarah found other accommodation and she and the animals moved out, but there was an unhappy relationship with her partner and so she moved back to live with Miss Geanno. She had been at that address for two weeks before the inspector came to visit.”

Mr Price said the couple should have realised there were other options. “The RSPCA has arrangements that in circumstances of domestic violence people can shelter their animals with the RSPCA temporarily,” he said. “Had that option or any other charity been resorted to, this situation wouldn’t have come about.”

Mr Price said the animals at Geanno’s home had been in good health when the RSPCA inspector visited.

Mr Jonathan Mason, for Geanno, said she knew she was banned from keeping animals but wanted to help her daughter. Miss Louise Higgins, for Watton, said he had been confused about what the ban entailed.

The pair were due to be sentenced later today.