Puppy Found in Worst Condition Imaginable
A Birmingham woman has been sentenced after leaving her five-month-old Staffie puppy to starve for three months in what RSPCA officers described as the worst possible condition. Lauren Hopkins, 39, of Winterton Road, Kingstanding, failed to provide basic care for her dog Stella, who was found emaciated and near death.
Disturbing Discovery in Tottenham Flat
The case came to light in December 2023 when RSPCA officers visited Hopkins' rented flat in High Road, Tottenham, North London, to conduct a welfare check. After receiving no response to their knocks, they left messages and sealed the door with tape as part of their procedure.
Multiple follow-up phone calls to Hopkins went unanswered, raising concerns about both her wellbeing and that of her dog. When she eventually responded, she confirmed there was a dog at the property, prompting immediate action.
Police were forced to execute a forced entry into the flat, where they discovered a scene of squalor and neglect. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Lee Ricketts described finding "a lot of rubbish and broken furniture" in the property.
Officers emerged with a severely underweight brindle puppy they named Stella. The animal rescue officer noted: "I found no signs of any other animals and no animal food packets either used or unused were present in any of the accessible parts of the property."
Veterinary Assessment Reveals Extreme Suffering
Stella was rushed to the RSPCA's Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, where veterinary examination revealed shocking findings. The five-month-old puppy had a body condition score of just 1/9 - the lowest possible rating, with 4-5 considered healthy for a dog.
The veterinary report detailed that Stella's ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and other bony areas including shoulders and head were prominently visible. She had no discernible body fat and showed significant muscle loss.
While an average five-month-old female Staffordshire bull terrier should weigh between 9-13 kg, Stella weighed only 5.8kg. The vet concluded that the starvation had occurred over approximately 12 weeks - meaning the suffering had lasted for most of the puppy's short life.
The veterinary expert stated: "Without a doubt she was severely underweight based on her weight and body condition score in consideration of her age and breed. She was only 5 months old on presentation and therefore it is likely she never was at an ideal body condition score to start with and had never received appropriate nutrition."
Court Outcome and Sentencing
Hopkins pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animal Welfare Act. On November 20, 2025, Birmingham Magistrates' Court handed down its sentence.
The 39-year-old received an eight-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months. More significantly, she was given a 10-year ban from keeping any animal - preventing her from owning pets until 2035.
Additional sentencing requirements included a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, a Mental Health Treatment Requirement, and an order to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
In mitigation, Hopkins' defence team told the court she was "very sorry for committing the offence" and had been experiencing numerous personal problems at the time of the neglect.
Meanwhile, Stella began her recovery journey under RSPCA care. She was placed on a carefully managed treatment plan and found a foster home in January 2024, where she could begin to experience proper care and nutrition.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal responsibilities pet owners bear and the serious consequences of failing to meet basic animal welfare standards.
