Vet who kept dogs in cages in filthy 'dungeon' gets suspended jail term

A vet has been given a suspended jail sentence and banned from keeping animals for life after police found dogs locked in cages in a filthy "pitch-black dungeon" at his practice.

Gary Samuel was charged after officers discovered 22 dogs and eight cats in the back room, living quarters and basement of Armley Vets, on Town Street, in Armley, Leeds.

Samuel, 49, of Western Road, Enfield, was convicted of six offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Leeds Magistrates' Court earlier this year and has now been given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work; fined £200 and told to pay £500 costs, the RSPCA confirmed.

Last month, Samuel's assistant Rochelle McEwan, 28, was also disqualified from keeping animals for life, as well as being sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

McEwan, of Stonecliffe Close, Leeds, was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £250 costs.

The RSPCA said it was called in by police officers who had gone to the surgery in relation to an unrelated matter.

One cat was put down on site and a dog was put down the following day. Three further dogs have had to be put down on veterinary advice.

RSPCA inspector Nikki Cheetham said: "I've seen a lot of shocking things working for the RSPCA but I would certainly never have expected to deal with something like this.

"People who work in the veterinary profession are the first port of call if an animal needs help. It is unthinkable to consider what was going on in this surgery as clients were coming and going, paying their vet fees.

"Dogs and cats were in a back room, the vet's living quarters and a basement, accessed by a trapdoor in the floor that had been hidden by a piece of carpet - that's where most of the dogs were found. They were in cages covered in faeces, with no access to food or water, in the pitch black. It was like a dungeon."

Ms Cheetham said most of the dogs were Husky-types, with the exception of two Chinese crested dogs. Adult dogs were in the basement while puppies were found shut in one of the rooms, with most of the cats in another.

She said 21 animals - 15 dogs and six cats - have already been re-homed from RSPCA centres and branches in County Durham, York, Liverpool, Chester, Leeds and Harrogate.

Ms Cheetham said: "I've had the pleasure of seeing a couple of the animals recently, with their new owners, which was a lovely experience.

"Of course, the adult dogs are taking some adjusting to the wonderful new homes they're now living in, but they have owners who are committed to them for the long haul."

Dogs and cats found in "appalling conditions" at vet's practice in Leeds. 2 people convicted. More on @BBCLookNorth pic.twitter.com/ZZcqm7XxYK

— Dave Edwards (@daveedwards10) January 22, 2016