One of the most severe cases of animal cruelty investigators have ever encountered involved a couple who starved their Lurcher puppy to death.
Three-year-old Tiggy was discovered abandoned on the roadside by Kerry Patterson, 35, and Reece Milburn, 30, who subsequently reported her to their local council. An animal protection officer in Blyth, Northumberland, described the situation as “the worst incident he’d seen in his 15 years on the job.”
Tiggy was found with nearly no fur and prominent ribs, severely dehydrated, covered in rashes and mites, and too weak to stand.
Discovered just days before Christmas in 2019, Tiggy’s distressing photos went viral, prompting Northumberland County Council to launch an appeal to locate her owners. Several days later, the council received numerous letters identifying Patterson and Milburn as Tiggy’s owners. The couple confessed to inflicting unnecessary suffering on a protected species when they appeared in court on March 3. They also admitted neglecting their other dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Enzo, who suffered from a skin condition and mite infestation.
Patterson and Milburn were sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, ordered to pay £120 in victim costs, and banned from owning or caring for animals for life.
Philip Soderquest, a representative for the council, stated, “This was one of the most appalling and high-profile acts of animal cruelty the county has ever witnessed. Our animal welfare team is committed to investigating neglect and abuse cases and holding offenders accountable.”
Despite the delay, Soderquest emphasized, “We were determined that Tiggy’s former owners would face justice, and today we finally achieved that.”
Thanks to the efforts of the Berwick Animal Rescue Center, Tiggy’s story ended on a positive note. She has since found a new home, enjoys a new life with dog friends, and is thriving in health and happiness. Enzo, the other dog, remains in kennels, awaiting a loving home.
