A banned pet owner who crammed dozens of animals into her filthy Crouch Hill home has been spared jail – again.
Dulcie Seago-Madi, 73, was given a lifetime ban from keeping animals in November last year after officers found 16 diseased and malnourished dogs in her Heathville Road house.
But less than a month later almost 50 cats, four dogs, an African grey parrot and a tortoise were found living in squalor inside.
Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard today how one room had 20 cats locked inside with just one litter tray and the floor and curtains were covered in faeces.
Another room had 15 cats in dog cages with no food or water, while another 10 were rescued from a third-floor room.
Three of the cats were in desperate need of medical attention and most were underweight, the court heard.
The parrot was kept in a cage filled with faeces, while the tortoise was left with the cats in one of the rooms.
Two pugs, one a puppy, a spaniel and a bichon frise puppy were also found in desperate need of food and water.
The animals were said to belong to Seago-Madi’s son, who she cares for and like her has mental health issues.
The court heard how the animals had been there when the dogs were seized, but an RSPCA officer said they were OK to stay.
Prosecutor Demi Utay told the court an animal control officer then visited her home after reports of hoarding.
She said: “The defendant’s son allowed the officer into the premises and on entering a first-floor room he could see 20 cats and there was a strong smell of urine. The floor was heavily filled with faeces and there was no water. There was one litter tray for the whole room and a heavy amount of faeces on the curtains.
“Fifteen cats were in dog cages in another room which had bottles for water but no food or water in them.”
Seago-Madi, wearing a black leather jacket, was spared jail by district judge Gill Allison due to her circumstances.
She was given a 12-week sentence suspended for two years for causing unnecessary suffering to animals, and also left with a court bill of £700.
Her existing four-month sentence, suspended for one year, was extended to be suspended for 18 months.
She was also banned from keeping animals for life – again.
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