A Wirral woman who drowned her dog in a lake because she thought she was suffering from cancer has been banned from keeping animals for life and handed a suspended prison.

Michelle Moran threw her Jack Russell dog, called Gypsy,  into a boating lake at Gautby Road in Birkenhead, and later insisted the canine was seriously ill and she couldn’t afford to put her to sleep.

Gypsy’s body was recovered by a member of the public from the lake on:- 29 September last year, the day after Moran had disposed of her.

Moran (D.O.B 7/10/1962), of Kennet Road, Bebington, pleaded guilty to 2 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on:- 28 May 2026. As well as the disqualification, the defendant received a term of 17 weeks imprisonment which was suspended for 18 months. She was also placed under a 6pm to 6am curfew and told to complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.

RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes investigated after a report was made to the animal charity on:- 30 October last year about a small white and tan Jack Russell dog whose body had been hauled out of the boating lake more than a month earlier.

The defendant wasn’t at home when the inspector called, but when she did make contact with the officer she initially claimed her actions had been accidental. Then she said Gypsy had become unwell and she thought she had cancer, so she had taken her to the lake and thrown her in.

Inspector Joynes said in a statement presented to the court:- “The defendant said she’d seen on social media the following day that Gypsy had been found dead in the lake and she knew she “shouldn’t have done it”.”

Moran said she was sorry for her actions and told the inspector:- “All I remember is throwing her in and walking away”.

When she was formally interviewed, the defendant claimed Gypsy was suffering from tumours and was losing her eyesight, although none of these conditions were confirmed by any veterinary diagnosis.

Inspector Joynes went to the boating lake and noted that a surrounding concrete wall was high enough to have made it very difficult for a small dog, particularly one that was weak or unwell, to exit the water.

When Gypsy was examined at a Wirral vets she weighed only 3.7kg and scored 2 out of 9 on a body condition score (where 5 is an ideal weight). Her mouth and nose were also bloodied.

A vet who reviewed the evidence said the defendant caused the dog to suffer by failing to seek vet treatment and intentionally ending her life by throwing her into a lake to drown.

The vet stated:- “The defendant should have sought assistance if she felt it was time for Gypsy to be euthanised and this should have been carried out in a pain-free and humane manner with veterinary assistance. Instead she took matters into her own hands which led to Gypsy suffering and experiencing an inhumane death.” 

The court was told that Moran, who will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £154, said in mitigation she could not afford to put the dog to sleep.

Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Joynes said:- “This was an extremely callous act perpetrated by the defendant who had a responsibility to seek out veterinary care for the dog if she thought she was seriously unwell. To take her to a lake and throw her in beggars belief - poor Gypsy would have suffered a horrendous death.”