A disturbing case of animal neglect has come to light in County Durham, where a woman banned from keeping animals was found guilty of mistreating over 40 horses and dogs. At Kerry Anne Pickersgill’s farm near Barnard Castle, rescuers from the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare uncovered a horrifying scene of suffering.
The teams found 22 horses living in dilapidated barns, some dead and others in critical condition. Many horses were emaciated, with some collapsing from starvation and neglect. The horses were kept in filthy stables covered in their own waste, lacking clean bedding or adequate water. Shockingly, skeletal remains of deceased horses were strewn about, with at least two horse carcasses partially burned and hidden among rubble.
The rescuers also found 21 dogs confined in sheds and trailers, many coated in matted fur intertwined with moldy faeces. The dogs lived amid filth and strong ammonia odors, without access to clean water or dry resting areas. Many dogs were severely underweight and infected with lice and worms.
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Pickersgill, 48, had been disqualified for life from keeping any animals since 2015 but was still found housing both horses and dogs in catastrophic conditions. Her daughter, Ellie Newby, 25, also lived on the farm. Following investigations, Pickersgill pled guilty to multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering, failing to meet animal needs, and breaching her ban. Newby admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs.
At Durham Crown Court, Pickersgill received a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, combined with community service and a mental health treatment order. Newby was given a 12-month community order, unpaid work, and a five-year dog ownership ban.
RSPCA inspectors detailed the harrowing conditions in their testimonies. Inspector Ian Smith described finding skeletal horse remains and a young foal beside its deceased mother in a feces-filled stable without fresh bedding. Inspector Heidi Cleaver reported dogs housed in dark, damp, and ammonia-filled spaces with no access to fresh water. Many animals were so malnourished they resorted to eating their own faeces.
Veterinary assessments confirmed widespread starvation, infection, and lack of veterinary care. Some horses had no access to water, while others were forced to live alongside carcasses of dead animals. Among the rescued dogs was an English Sheepdog named Ali, severely matted and emaciated, who later made a significant recovery under RSPCA care.
Thanks to the collaborative rescue efforts of the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare, most surviving animals received rehabilitation and have been rehomed. The case has left a lasting impact on rescuers and highlights the dire consequences of animal neglect and cruelty.
Inspector Cleaver commented on the grim discovery: “The images of starving horses alongside the dead, and countless frightened dogs in darkness, will stay with us forever. Many suffered greatly, but thanks to our dedicated teams, many have now found new homes.”
Seema Ritson of World Horse Welfare added: “The level of suffering was truly horrific. Coming across dead horses and starving equines locked in dark, filthy conditions is a haunting memory.”