Peterborough woman charged with 32 animal cruelty offences

Tina Shortell is due to attend Cambridge Magistrates’ Court over the allegations which involve specialist dog and cat breeds such as pomperanians, chihuahuas and daschunds.  

The court list includes brief details of the offences which all allegedly happened earlier this year on April 19 in Wisbech. 

One of the charges claims a chihuahua suffered with sores on his eyeballs because of a lack of treatment for a condition affecting his eyelids and eyelashes.  

Another Yorkshire terrier’s teeth were allegedly in such poor condition that a dental examination and extractions had be performed on the animal under general anaesthetic.  

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Twenty-two of the charges accuse Shortell, from Orton Brimbles, Peterborough, of not taking reasonable steps to ensure the animals’ needs were being met under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.  

The explanation supporting these charges says: “... you failed to provide a suitable environment, and failed to protect the animal from pain, suffering injury and disease.” 

The other 10 charges are listed as “Cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal” and outline more specific allegations such skin conditions from a lack of care as well as the need for other medical treatments.