A 67-year-old woman from Haverfordwest has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after failing to look after the needs of 30 dogs.

Alison Silk, of The Rath, Camrose, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on February 20 and pleaded guilty to not taking reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of 30 poodle dogs for which she was responsible were met to the extent required by good practice: a suitable environment, adequate nutrition, drinking water, veterinary treatment, parasitic control, enabling animals to exhibit normal behaviour, protecting them from pain, injury, suffering and disease. Silk was committed to prison for 26 weeks suspended for 12 months. The reason for crossing the custody threshold was the high level of neglect to multiple animals; the sentence was suspended owing to a low reoffending risk and realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

The defended was ordered to pay victim services £154 and costs of £10,300. An order was made under Section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to disqualify from owning animals, keeping them, participating in keeping them and from being party to an arrangement under which she is entitled to control or influence the way in which they are kept for a period of 10 years.