55-year old David Tilley from Ashill, near Watton, has been charged with 21 offenses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, after 23 cats were found living in “disgraceful and squalid environment” in his bungalow. An inspector on the case said
it would have been “totally avoidable if Tilley had asked for help. As it was, the cats undeniably suffered significantly throughout in the almost indescribable squalor.”

Chair of the bench, Elizabeth Hornegold, said the only mitigating factor in the case was that Mr. Tilley had not starved the cats. Otherwise, many of them had been soaked in urine and covered in faeces, carrying fleas and suffering with dermatisis. The hallway of the bungalow’s was covered in cans and rubbish, and “a black liquid underneath the debris [stank] of ammonia and decay.” Mr. Tilley was charged with failing to provide the cats with a hygienic environment, free from hazards, failing to protect them from injury, disease and pain and failing to ensure they could behave naturally. He was ordered to pay costs of £5,179 and do 100 hours of unpaid work, along with being banned from keeping cats for 3 years.

All the cats have now been rehomed, but it doesn’t seem right to us that, after all the suffering these animals went through, Mr. Tilley got a mere 3 years’ ban from keeping cats. The fines and work are acceptable punishments, but it’s unclear why this man deserves to ever keep cats again!

Image from edp24.co.uk