Floors smeared with faeces, bleak surroundings, and no sign of food or water — this was the grim reality inside the Wolverhampton home where five dogs died and four others were rescued, dangerously close to death.
Joshua Johnson, a 28-year-old failed breeder, abandoned the animals amid a personal downward spiral triggered by mental health struggles and the recent deaths of his father and grandfather. Despite affording drugs and alcohol, Johnson neglected to feed the dogs, leaving them to starve.
Following his suspended sentence handed down at Birmingham Crown Court, the RSPCA released harrowing photos of Johnson’s property, though images of the deceased dogs were withheld due to their graphic nature.
READ MORE: Final Days of ‘Sensitive Soul’ Prisoner Derrion Adams Confirmed Drug-Related Death at HMP Birmingham
READ MORE: State Pension Triple Lock May Be Replaced to Prioritise Younger Generations, Say Experts
When RSPCA inspectors initially visited the property on June 7, 2023, Johnson tried to evade responsibility by posing as a friend. However, inspectors had already observed two severely emaciated dogs in the garden. Eventually, Johnson admitted ownership but falsely claimed no more dogs were inside.
In the company of police officers, officials discovered two more starving dogs inside. One, a Cane Corso named Panther, was described as a “walking skeleton,” emaciated to a heartbreaking degree. Johnson surrendered these animals, but the worst was yet to come.
Further searches uncovered five dead dogs in various locations, including a garage, shed, and even a shipping container. Three were severely decomposed, and post-mortem examinations on two found sepsis due to starvation as the likely cause of death.
The four surviving dogs were in critical condition, with a body condition score of one out of nine—extremely underweight—and estimated to have suffered for at least two to three weeks.
Janita Patel, prosecuting for the RSPCA, called the case deeply distressing. She explained that Johnson had sourced dogs for commercial breeding but, when that failed, chose neglect over rehoming. “He hid behind drugs and alcohol, despite having money to care for the animals,” she added.
Johnson’s defense lawyer, Holly Simms, acknowledged his severe regret and shame, attributing his neglect to his struggles with addiction. She highlighted his steps toward recovery, including abstaining from cocaine, managing alcohol addiction, reconnecting with family, and gaining part-time work as a mechanic—with full-time employment conditional on avoiding imprisonment.
The judge sentenced Johnson to two years in prison, suspended for 21 months, alongside an indefinite ban on keeping animals. He was ordered to pay £400 in costs and complete 35 days of rehabilitation, including alcohol and drug treatment.
Judge Roderick Henderson concluded, “This was not deliberate cruelty but the result of a life out of control due to substance misuse.” He stated the suspended sentence and ban would protect animals from future harm by Johnson.