Police bodycam shows faeces-filled house of horrors where dog was left to starve

Officers swooped on a property in Penrith, owned by Anya Shears, 23, after spotting a large dog surrounded by bare flooring, a tatty dog’s bed and dog faeces strewn across the floor

Shocking bodycam footage shows the harrowing moment police stumbled upon a filth-ridden house of horrors where a dog was left to starve.

Officers paid a visit to the property owned by Anya Shears, 23, after spotting a large dog in the living room that was surrounded by bare flooring, a tattered dog’s bed with no stuffing and dog faeces scattered across the floor. The footage released by Carlisle Police on January 2 captures the moment officers search a property, with one heard expressing his revulsion at the state of the place: “Ugh, get some air in here.”

Suspecting neglect, the police returned to the address the next day. Shears and Tyler Thornton, 25, were arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

A search of the premises revealed a large, emaciated dog confined to a single room devoid of furniture, carpets or proper food. The police stated it was evident that Shears and Thornton, who were residing upstairs in the property, ‘were not providing sufficient care for the animal’.

The dog was taken to kennels where a vet examined him and found him to be in a dire state and severely underweight, almost to the point of anorexia, with overgrown nails and matted, patchy fur. Tragically, the dog had to be put down reports reports Lancashire Live.

Shears and Thornton, both of Carleton Hall Walk, Penrith, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide adequate care for a dog at their property. They were handed a five-year animal disqualification order at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Tuesday (December 31) and were also sentenced for a separate possession of cannabis offence.

PC Stewart Green from the Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team said of the horror case: “This was an awful and shocking case of animal neglect. Shears and Thornton failed a dog in their care, leaving him unsocialised, unexercised, hungry and dirty.”

The video also shows the officer stepping out into the backyard, where he is overcome by a cough. He added: “I hope this goes to show just how seriously we take cases of animal cruelty and neglect, and we will always strive to bring offenders before the courts.”