Woman went on holiday and left 95 dogs without food or water - RSPCA video

Oct 5 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A HUDDERSFIELD woman went on holiday to a sunshine isle – and left 95 dogs behind without food or water.

Most were St Bernards who were discovered by RSPCA inspectors who raided Mary Collis’ kennels while she was away.

Now the bankrupt, who lives in Denby Dale, has been warned she could face a jail sentence when she admitted dog cruelty charges at Corby Magistrates’ Court.

Collis, of Denby Lane, Upper Denby, used to run Wardana Kennels in Northamptonshire.

She left the dogs with no-one looking after them while she jetted off abroad – one later died and another was put down. Many others were found to be suffering badly.

Most have now been re-homed.

Later this month Collis will be sentenced for animal cruelty after pleading guilty to abandoning the dogs so she could go on holiday to the Canary Islands.

An RSPCA spokesman told the court that at the end of November last year a worried dog owner called police after visiting the kennels and seeing that no-one was looking after the dogs.

Collis, 51, who once owned a Crufts winner, had gone on a holiday to Tenerife.

Many of the dogs she had left were St Bernards ranging from nine weeks to eight-years-old.

Inspectors found dogs with their coats soaked in urine and matted with their own faeces.

And 48 dogs were found between 20% and 30% below their normal healthy weight.

The RSPCA said nine puppies were being kept in a separate pen outside with no food or water.