Crufts trainer allows three dogs to die in hot car

Telegraph

24-06-2025

A Crufts dog trainer allowed three pets to die in a baking hot car, a court heard.
Andrew Claridge-Fleming left the animals in crates in the boot of his Land Rover Discovery for seven hours in August 2023.
Three of the dogs died from heat exhaustion and another recovered after being taken to a vet, a court heard.
Claridge-Fleming admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals on the basis that he was not directly responsible for their deaths.
He said he had left a door and the boot open to keep the dogs cool at his farm in New Milton, Hampshire, on Aug 3 2023.
But when he returned later that day the doors were shut and Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, Bodger, a cocker spaniel, and a cockapoo named Rocky, were dead.
Two of them were his own dogs while the other two belonged to clients.
His own cocker spaniel, also called Rocky, survived, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.
The 57-year-old, who runs the training school Gordleton Gundogs, made his debut at Crufts last year with a canine called Ato.
In a statement read out on his behalf, he told the court he had been unexpectedly called away from his farm to drive his wife and four children to see a relative at 9am and did not return until 4pm.
'I had taken the dogs out for training that morning and returned at approximately 9am,' he said. 'They were left in a crate in the back of the car with capacity for four dogs, two in each compartment. They were left with water and I left the back door and boot open on my Land Rover Discovery.
'My wife and I had four children, my wife had just given birth. She had gone out to visit her aunt but came back a short while later saying she couldn't cope with the drive with all the children.
'I said I would take them. This was around 10am. It was otherwise unplanned. I was gone until approximately 4pm. When I returned I was shocked to find the boot had been closed. Three out of four had perished. I was distraught. I did what I could to cool Rocky down before taking him to the vet.
'I do not accept I am directly responsible for their deaths but I do accept I left the dogs unattended for too long. At gun dog trials, dogs are routinely kept in crates in the back of vehicles, it is standard practice in the industry. I regret the incident immensely.'
Holly Fagan, defending, told the court her client was 'deeply sorry' for the loss of the two dogs owned by others.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be carried out, but Claridge-Fleming could face jail when he returns to be sentenced in August. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is five years in prison.
Richard Onslow, the recorder, said: 'I can't tell you what sort of sentence it will be. There are no promises, no guarantees.'