A Merseyside woman who failed to seek veterinary treatment for her Jack Russell dog’s serious leg injury has been banned from keeping animals for life and handed a 20-week suspended prison sentence.

Lashon Peters, (D.O.B 22/6/1993), of The Marian Way, Netherton, pleaded guilty to 1 offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on:- 7 October 2026. As well as the life-time disqualification and the jail term, which was suspended for 12 months, the defendant was placed on probation for 12 months and fined:- £120.

The court heard how the elderly terrier dog, called Tilly, was found with part of her front left leg and paw missing when RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Hana Yen visited Peters’ former home at Boswell Street in Bootle on:- 8 March this year. The defendant told the officer Tilly had sustained the injury in a fight with a French bulldog she kept a few weeks before.

She said she had:- “got rid of the dog’s paw” as it had been severed in the:- “fight” along with part of Tilly’s leg. Pieces of bone were sticking out from the severed limb, but despite the injuries, Tilly was left without pain relief.

“Tilly’s left leg and paw was missing from the elbow down. The area was dry, but you could see pink flesh and the bone was visible. Tilly had not received any veterinary care following the injuries from the dogs’ fight,” said the officer in a statement to the court.

The defendant agreed to sign Tilly over into the care of the RSPCA and she was taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where she was administered pain medication and given a thorough assessment.

As well as the pain from the partially amputated leg, the dog was suffering from a condition in which her knee cap slipped causing lameness while her front right leg paw was also deformed and osteoarthritis was suspected in several of her joints.

A vet at the animal charity’s hospital who examined the dog said that the partial amputation of the leg had seen skin, muscle and 2 bones ripped off, which would have caused significant pain, blood loss and mental suffering for the dog.

“Tilly was not coping well on three legs. She growled when her knee joints were examined and she was painful on manipulation of both hip joints. The surgical amputation of the remaining part of her left leg would not have improved her condition significantly and she would still have struggled with chronic pain and walking difficulties,” concluded the vet, who added: “A reasonable owner would have sought veterinary help in a case of serious and obvious injury like this.”

Sadly, because of the poor prognosis for Tilly it was decided that the kindest course of action was to put her to sleep.

Peters was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of:- £154. The court heard that she had rehomed the French bulldog and a cat that had been in her ownership.

Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said:- “It is inconceivable that an owner would have left their dog to suffer without pain relief and without taking her to a vet in these circumstances. As a result poor Tilly suffered horrendously.”