Northants woman accused of failing to treat dogs and cats with '˜chronic' conditions in her care

Maite Garcia, of Nightingale Lane, Wellingborough, faces 17 charges under the Animal Welfare Act relating to either causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or failing in a duty of care to an animal.

Though the 45-year-old did not appear at Northampton magistrates’ court for a hearing yesterday, solicitor Sean Smith told the court his client had already entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

Two of the charges relate to the diets of five cats, which the RSPCA says were jugged not “suitable.”

It is alleged seven domestic cats were not protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease as shown by an ear mite infection and were also not kept in a “suitable environment.”

An adult Bengal style cat called “Sassy,” was not taken to the vets when she was in “poor condition, the RSPCA alleges.

The animal welfare charity also claims she did not show the correct duty of care to a ragdoll style cat called Lily, and did not treat a rex type cat for an ulcerated eye.

A female bulldog with eye and skin conditions, a boxer dog by the name of Zeus and a bulldog with conditions “affecting her skin, eyes and ears,” were also include in the charges.

Garcia will face a one-day trial at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 20.