A woman has been jailed for almost six months and banned from keeping animals for ten years after leaving her two dogs to starve in a dirty, empty flat in Bristol.
Dawn Tolliver pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences after RSPCA inspectors found the shocking state she had left her two Cane Corso dogs, named Angel and Evil.
The 51-year-old, from Hartgill Close in Hartcliffe, South Bristol, was jailed for 24 weeks after rescuers found the two dogs weighed less than half the weight they should, and were infested with fleas and covered in their own dried faeces.
The emaciated dogs were found in a property in Timberscombe Walk in Hartcliffe, after concerns were raised about their welfare. RSPCA inspector Kim Walters was the first to visit the house, and described what she saw when she got there.
“There was no reply at the front door and dogs were heard barking from inside the house,” she said. “I was able to observe through the letterbox that there were two black cane corso dogs inside that looked to be in very poor bodily condition with their spine, hip bones and ribs being very prominent. There was a strong smell coming from the letterbox and the house appeared very dirty.
“I made enquiries with the neighbours who explained that they had not seen anyone living at the property for months but would see someone popping in every so often. There were concerns that the dogs used to be barking a lot but now they seemed quiet and concerns were raised that they could be deteriorating,” she added.
An image of Evil, a dog left to starve by its owner
(Image: RSPCA)
The dogs were retrieved from the property and taken to the vets. “The vet who examined Angel and Evil found them both to be in poor body condition,” said an RSPCA spokesperson. “They were also covered in dried faeces and had long claws and poor coats with lots of dandruff and flea dirt.
“The vet described how they had been suffering due to malnutrition. Both dogs were less than half the average body weight of an adult female Cane Corso at 45kg at the time of their rescue with Evil weighing 23kg and Angel weighing just 17kg,” she added.
Tolliver faced three charges of neglecting her animals over the period of a month between March 17 and April 17, 2024, and was also prosecuted and sentenced for failing to surrender to bail in October and December last year.
Tolliver failed to attend court initially and was arrested under a warrant on New Year’s Eve before being brought to Bristol Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty and was sentenced.
An image of Angel, a dog left to starve by its owner
(Image: RSPCA)
She was jailed for 24 weeks and banned from keeping animals for ten years – a ban she is not allowed to appeal against for eight years. She was also ordered to pay £239 in costs. She has launched an appeal against her sentence. Angel and Evil were signed over to the care of the RSPCA and brought back to full health. They have since been found new homes.
“These poor dogs were left unattended for such a time at this property without food that their health had been compromised,” said RSPCA inspector Kim Walters. “Thankfully they were rescued and have since gained weight and recovered.”