Woman from Sheffield who left pets 'locked in cages to starve' banned from owning animals

A woman who left her cats and dogs "locked in cages to starve" has been banned from owning animals for 10 years, police have said.

Shelby Russel's pets were "living in their own faeces" and "near death" when officers from South Yorkshire Police found them.

They were responding to a call from an RSPCA inspector who visited Russel's Sheffield home last October following reports that dogs and cats had been left for over a week without food or water.

Seeing the animals were alive inside the property, the inspector placed seals on the door to see if anyone entered before returning two days later.

Finding no one had been there, the official immediately called for police to attend and help remove the animals.

Russel, 29, returned to the property in Lupton Road before officers arrived and, when RSPCA staff began to seize the animals, she became aggressive and threatening, pushing an inspector and threatening to "stab anyone who tries to take her babies".

She gave the inspector various excuses for the animals' condition, including that she had been in hospital, had been let down by a dog sitter, left a tap running constantly, and fed them three times a day - claims she repeated in police interviews, the force said.

After officers arrived at the property, Russel was arrested and taken into custody.

Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard how video and photos showed the dogs scrambling to get to water once it was given, and that they continued to drink continuously for minutes.

A vet who assessed the animals after they were seized said they were extremely underweight, but their condition improved after they were removed from the property.

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Russel, who admitted animal cruelty charges, was banned from owning animals for 10 years, ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation and pay fines totalling £199 at the court on Monday.

Dog Legislation Sergeant Matt Duffy said leaving animals "defenceless, locked in cages to starve and dehydrate is disgusting behaviour".

Russel, he said, had caused the animals "pain and suffering", but added they "were making good progress with their care within the RSPCA".