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CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #10007 Rating: 3.3 out of 5
Thursday, Aug 31, 2006
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Lydia Cairns
» Lianne Cairns
» David Cairns
55-year old Lydia Cairns was jailed yesterday (12 September 2006) after admitting causing unnecessary suffering and abandonment to 10 week old puppy, Ruby.
One JP is reported to have wept in court when hearing the heartbreaking plight of little Ruby who suffered an horrific, tortured death at the hands of Cairns.
The court heard how Cairns had initially tried to drown Ruby in boiling water but when the pup didn't die, she asked her 21 year old son David to kill the wounded pup.
David took Ruby to a nearby field but found he 'could not go through with it'. Instead of killing her himself he left the puppy to die over a period possibly as long as a week.
Carol Robson, chair of the bench, told Cairns, of Down Hill, Sunderland, said: "You caused excruciating agony to this animal, you knew the outcome of your actions."
JP Helen Robinson was reported to have wept as she learned how lab tests revealed Ruby had died from scalding.
RSPCA spokeswoman Emma Ellis said: "This it really is as bad as it gets."
Cairns, who acquired Ruby after the family dog Trixie had a litter of ten puppies all of whom were given away with the exception of Ruby who was returned, was jailed two months for each offence and was banned indefinitely from keeping animals.
Cairns claimed she did not have the time or money to take her to be put down and so took matters into her own hands.
David Cairns received a two-year community order and 100 hours' community service as well as ban from keeping animals for ten years.
Cairns' daughter Lianne, 19, who was aware of the cruelty, received given a conditional discharge and banned from keeping animals for two years.
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