An owner has been handed a lifetime animal ban after a dog was found starving and left to die in a freezing cold cellar.
American Bulldog Mabel was found emaciated and dehydrated in a filthy basement after her owner moved out of the property.
The dog had been left locked inside a dark room with no way out, surrounded by faeces and urine.
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Her owner, Ryan Miller, has now been banned from keeping animals for life after admitting two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
Miller, of Howard Way, Meltham, Huddersfield, was handed a 38-week prison sentence, suspended for one year, as reported by Need To Know.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £400 in costs, plus a £187 victim surcharge.
Mabel was discovered by the property’s landlord on January 25, 2026, around seven to ten days after Miller had moved out.
The landlord of the home on Greenfield Road, Holmfirth, rushed her to a vet for emergency treatment before the RSPCA was called to investigate.
Vanessa Reid RSPCA Inspector visited the property as part of her investigation and described the conditions inside the cellar.
She said: “As soon as the door was opened, there was a strong smell of ammonia, despite the kitchen area having been cleared and cleaning products on the floor.
“I was shown down to a freezing cold basement consisting of two rooms with a wooden door and latch.
“The landlord explained that Mabel had been locked inside the enclosed room, with no way out.
“He was not aware that she was present until he opened the door and saw her.”
The cellar had stone walls and flooring and was damp, cold and generally unpleasant.
Despite temperatures of three degrees Celsius outside, the basement felt even colder.
There was a large catering-sized pan on the floor which appeared to have been used to hold water, but it was completely dry.
An upturned ceramic dog bowl was also found nearby, while a single sofa cushion appeared to be the only bedding available to Mabel.
Inspector Reid added: “There was faeces and urine on the floor and the landlord confirmed the lights had not been on when he attended so Mabel must have been living in pitch black at all times.”
Mabel’s owner was traced through her microchip, which was registered to a previous owner who was able to provide Miller’s details.
The dog was taken for veterinary treatment, where she was found to be severely emaciated and dehydrated, weighing just 11kg.
She was immediately given intravenous fluids and placed on a carefully managed feeding plan.
Despite being given food, Mabel was so hungry that she tried to eat leaves and rubbish when taken outside.
Cream was also applied to sores on her pelvic bones.
The vet who examined her said: “Considering this information and the circumstances in which she was found, it is my professional opinion that it is likely that Mabel’s low body condition was caused by starvation.
“The owner unnecessarily allowed Mabel to suffer slowly to the point of emaciation.
“This suffering could have been alleviated through providing an appropriate diet and seeking veterinary advice or considering relinquishing Mabel.”
The vet estimated that the neglect had lasted for a minimum of three weeks.
Miller admitted failing to provide Mabel with an appropriate environment, adequate food and water, companionship and veterinary care.
In mitigation, the court heard that Miller was an animal lover who had previously cared for Mabel to an “exceptional” standard.
He claimed that people to whom he owed a significant debt had threatened him and told him not to return to the property.
However, magistrates said the evidence demonstrated the extent of Mabel’s suffering.
They said: “We have heard and seen compelling evidence of significant animal cruelty.
“The prosecution evidence demonstrates profound suffering on the part of the animal, and the extent of that suffering is unequivocal.”
Miller was sentenced at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on October 9 after pleading guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Mabel has since made a full recovery in the care of the RSPCA Doncaster and Rotherham Branch and has found a loving new home.
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