Police issue major update after 37 dogs found dead – with more remains found
Police have issued a major update after 37 dogs were found dead at a rescue centre, with more remains now having been located.
Essex Police said a 25-year-old woman had been arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of animal cruelty as part of an investigation into the discovery of the dozens of dogs at a property in Crays Hill, in Billericay, last month. Officers arrived at the property along with staff from the RSPCA and Basildon Council where they made the horrific discovery. Ovaeed Rahman, 25, of Hope Road, in Billericay, was charged last month with having caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Rahman was also charged with an offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and three counts of fraud by false representation. He appeared before Southend Magistrates' Court last month and was remanded in custody until a plea hearing at Basildon Crown Court on June 9.
A second man, who was arrested on suspicion of fraud relating to transfer of ownership of dogs and animal cruelty, has been conditionally bailed until July. Police said that 21 live animals were recovered.
The force said that following information provided by a member of the public, officers from Essex Police and the RSPCA carried out further investigations at the Crays Hill location on Wednesday. The original scene had been stood down on May 14.
Police said the remains of four further animals were identified when buildings were dismantled by the landowner, with liaison with Essex Police.
An Essex Police spokesperson said: "We are now working to respectfully remove these remains from the scene and the Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team will work to establish if they are linked to our investigation."
Inspector Steve Parry, of Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: '"We understand the concerns of the local community. We would ask people not to speculate and allow us to carry out our complex and thorough investigations."
Anyone with any information is asked to submit it here.
According to the RSPCA, it received an estimated 44,800 reports of animal cruelty across England and Wales, between January and June of that year. The figure represented a 1,000 increase compared to the same period last year.
In 2023, the RSPCA claimed that 9,776 reports had been made to the organisation the year before about intentional harm being caused to dogs over the previous year. This was compared to 8,176 in 2021 and 7,691 in 2020.
Dog lover, Dermot Murphy, who heads up the RSPCA's frontline rescue officers, previously said of the statistics: "For hundreds of years dogs have been known as man's best friend - and if you share your home with one, you will know why, as they are so loyal and loving companions.
"But these awful statistics tell a different story. Dogs are the most abused animal in this country and we investigate more complaints about them than any other type of animal - 27 dogs a day are cruelly treated - one every hour."
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