14/10/2026
𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 — 𝐌𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒
📍 HOLMFIRTH, WEST YORKSHIRE
📅 OCTOBER 2026
A dog named Mabel was left alone in a cold, dark cellar for around three weeks without food, water or heating. Her owner, Ryan Miller, 44, from Holmfirth, has been convicted of animal cruelty after leaving her without the basic care she needed.
Mabel was discovered by her owner's landlord in a severely emaciated and dehydrated condition. She had been left with only a single filthy sofa cushion for bedding.
A veterinary examination gave Mabel a body condition score of just 1 out of 9, indicating extreme emaciation. The vet described her suffering as “very high” and said she would likely have d*ied within days if she had not been found.
The neglect affected her emotionally as well as physically. A behavioural assessment concluded that Mabel had endured fear, anxiety, panic and frustration during the prolonged period she was left alone.
Miller had previously been warned by the RSPCA that dogs must not be left unattended for long periods. Despite that warning, he left Mabel without care for weeks.
In court, a probation officer said Miller had shown “no consideration for this dog whatsoever”, describing the neglect as wilful.
In mitigation, Miller claimed he had been threatened over debts and told not to return to the property. However, the court imposed a sentence for the animal welfare offences.
Mabel was signed over to the RSPCA, received the care she desperately needed and has since been rehomed.
SENTENCE
38 weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months
200 hours of unpaid work
Indefinite ban on keeping animals
£587 in costs, plus approximately £3,000 in RSPCA legal and veterinary fees
🐾💔 Mabel was left to starve in the dark, with nobody to care for her. She deserved love, not weeks of suffering.
💬 Do you think this sentence reflects the suffering Mabel endured?
📌 SOURCE: RSPCA / Court reporting