Leeds Mercury – Tuesday 14 December 1937

Dog’s Cruel Death

 Wath-on-Dearne Couple Fined

Saying the defendants were not fit to have the care of any animal and that they would be disqualified from keeping a dog for three years, the Rotherham West Riding magistrates to-day fined George T. Waddington (44), miner, of 30, West Street, Wath-on- Dearne, £3 for causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by killing it in an improper manner, and his wife, Edith A. Waddington (48) £5 for cruelly ill-treating the dog. The husband was also ordered to pay £7 8s. costs, and they were each given a month’s imprisonment in default of payment.

Mr. J. W. Fenoughty, for the R.S.P.C.A., said a neighbour saw Mrs. Waddington kicking the dog about the body. The dog, a Pomeranian, was obviously in pain, and ran into the house. The same evening the neighbour saw Waddington burying the dog in the garden. The dog was exhumed and a post-mortem examination revealed that had died from suffocation, and there was evidence of bruising on its side.

When asked how the dog had died, Waddington, said he poisoned it with some embrocation.” The examination revealed no trace of poison in the dog’s body.

Both defendants, said Mr. Fenoughty, were rather hostile when they were interviewed by the police.

The male defendant, in evidence, said gave the dog some poison but this failed to act.

The dog suffered from fits, and he put it in a sack and drowned it.