A Slough woman has been banned from owning an animal for 10 years after being found guilty of not looking after her pets.

Natasha Walker appeared at Slough Magistrates’ Court on Friday 17 July, two months after the plea hearing where she pled guilty to three charges.

During an inspection of Walker’s home, council officers found that a rabbit, a bull breed female puppy and a male Cane Corsa type dog were all being kept in highly unsuitable conditions.

The animals were taken into possession by the council after they witnessed the unsuitable conditions and the offenders' unwillingness and failure to improve them.

Failing to ensure the needs of animals which you are responsible for is illegal under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Magistrates also sentenced Ms Walker to a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and 12 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR).

Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for equalities, public health and public protection, said: “I’m glad to see the court taking these offences seriously. People should think carefully before getting a pet as it is a long-term commitment.

 “They should consider whether they have the appropriate conditions necessary for a happy and healthy pet, with access to clean drinking water, food, a comfortable place to sleep and of course, a loving environment.”

The conditions that the animals were being kept in included the rabbit living in a dirty and cramped cage without adequate water for the animal and a dilapidated kennel in the garden which was unsafe for the dogs.

The dogs were also found to only have filthy toilet water to drink inside.

During the hearing the court heard that Ms Walker may love the idea of owning and keeping animals however she has a history of not looking after her animals, including a previous pet, a 9-year-old Bull Terrier.

The defence put forward Ms Walker’s personal circumstances and the improvements made to date, saying she agreed to a ban on keeping dogs, but not other animals.

Alongside her sentence, she was also ordered to pay £341 towards the costs of the prosecution and victim surcharge of £114, making a total of £455.

Ms Walker was disqualified from owning, keeping, participate in the keeping, being party to any arrangement and dealing in animals for 10 years and barred from applying for this order to be revoked for five years.