Carnforth woman banned from keeping animals for five years

A woman has been banned from keeping animals for five years after being convicted of neglect offences.
Lancaster Magistrates Court.Lancaster Magistrates Court.
Lancaster Magistrates Court.

Rebecca Louise Goddard, 43, of Church Brow, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to two pet dogs and was found guilty of another similar matter relating to a horse, Thorn.

She was prosecuted by the RSPCA over incidents in 2013 involving the poor condition of her pet dogs and failing to provide appropriate treatment for her horse’s hoof abscess.

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Lancaster magistrates gave her a nine week sentence suspended for two years, and imposed £1,080 costs.

Today the mum, who has lost her livelihood grooming horses, said the incidents had been triggered by her depression and hit out at the “lack of help” she had received.

She added: “I have devoted my life to caring for horses and other animals, it is my livelihood.

“Until last year my record was exemplary.

“I am planning to appeal the case and it is in the hands of my solicitors. My horse Thorn passed away since leaving my care.

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“I had been asking for help from my GP and from the council to help repair damage that had been caused to my home. I discovered I was not a cyborg, I couldn’t cope with everything life was throwing at me.”