A resident has been banned from owning animals for life and sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after admitting failing to adequately care for three dogs.

Umeir Iqbal had the dogs, a female XL Bulldog type dog called Lala, and an entire male XL Bulldog type dog called Hurricane, living outside in muddy and wet conditions including faeces mess. Hurricane was tethered outside to a large cage/kennel, whilst Lala was within the cage/kennel.

The council was informed the dogs had been bred, the female had had puppies and they were constantly barking and whining with worries of mistreatment, as the dogs were outside all the time.

Officers obtained a warrant and attended the home on 35 Castleview Road on 15 November 2023, where they found Hurricane and Lala outside, Hurricane tethered and Lala in the cage. There was no bedding, no clean water, the ground area was fully emersed in mud and nowhere for these dogs to take shelter, or to have clean dry areas for them to escape the mud, water, and faecal matter.

As the officers went to leave by the back gate, they spotted a dead tan puppy lying on a piece of cardboard next to the wheelie bin. When asked where the puppy was kept, Mr Iqbal stated that sometimes it would be with Lala, but Lala was not always happy with the puppy, so he would put the puppy in the garage. There was a heater, but this would not have been effective to give enough heat for the puppy considering the outside temperature.

The officers told Mr Iqbal that they were unhappy with the conditions that he is keeping animals and that he was failing to meet their needs, and the officers removed the animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Umeir Iqbal, appeared at East Berkshire Magistrates' Court, Slough, on Wednesday 8 January and admitted three separate offences (per dog) under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of failing in his duty of care.

The court stated they felt this case had passed the custody threshold and the circumstances likely caused the puppy’s death. There was suffering to the adult dogs, no bedding, and they were open to disease and infection.

Mr Iqbal received a lifetime ban on him having/keeping animals and:
•    18 weeks in custody, but discounted to 12 weeks, on the charge regarding the puppy 
•    12 weeks in custody discounted to 8 weeks, on the charge relating to Lala
•    12 weeks in custody discounted to 8 weeks, on the charge relating to Hurricane.
Sentences are concurrent and 12 weeks in total.

Linda Corcoran, Resilience and Enforcement Team Leader, said: “I am extremely proud that we achieved a custodial sentence in this case, Mr Iqbal caused extreme suffering to these dogs, and failed to meet their basic needs.

“After we executed an entry warrant, we were saddened to find not only Lala and Hurricane in poor conditions, but a puppy dead.

“Slough Borough Council was awarded possession of Lala and Hurricane in May 2024 and they have been successfully rehomed.”

Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for equalities, public health and public protection, said: “Thank you to the neighbours for reporting concerns through in this case. Animals don’t have a voice, so we need to be their advocates. Thank you to our brilliant resilience and enforcement team for all their hard work in achieving this conviction and the difficult things they have to see whilst carrying out their roles. Thanks also go to the police for their assistance; I hope this sentence is a warning to others of the gravity of not looking after the welfare of their animals.”