A MAN has been disqualified from keeping equine animals for five years after admitting to neglecting two donkeys.

Benjamin Marshall, of New Street, Southowram, received the ban on January 19 at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court after an RSPCA prosecution.

Marshall, 43, had previously failed to comply with advice from the RSPCA and The Donkey Sanctuary, and pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences.

The offences were causing unnecessary suffering to 13-year-old donkey Jemimah by failing to meet her basic welfare needs, and not seeking veterinary treatment for laminitis and adequate dental care.

He also admitted not meeting the welfare needs of Jemimah's daughter, four-year-old Snowball, including not providing a fresh water supply, a suitable and safe environment to live in, and failing to provide adequate foot care.

The RSPCA and Donkey Sanctuary brought the charges after finding the animals were suffering and both needed urgent treatment. They found the donkeys living on a waste site littered with many dangerous objects including scrap metal, broken plastic and wood and a broken trailer with multiple sharp edges, as well as broken glass.

There was sparse grassed areas and areas for foraging were covered in mud and faeces.

Marshall said he provided water from a dustbin, but the level was too low for the donkeys to reach, their shelter was dirty and deep in mud and faeces.

RSPCA Inspector Rebecca Goulding said: “Donkeys require shelter at all times as, unlike horses, their coats are not well adapted to our climate and so they require shelter from the weather, but especially the rain, wind and cold.”

Vet Dr Suzanne Green from Greenway Equine Veterinary Services, was called to assess the donkeys’ conditions and found that Jemimah was extremely lame with laminitis. She had an overgrown foot and was in a lot of pain. Marshall told the vet; “the donkey had been like that for 10 years and that it was fine”.

Snowball’s feet were overgrown and starting to curl upwards. She had thrush and severe white line disease in all four of her feet. Both donkeys were also found to have extremely sharp teeth and there was no evidence of previous dental work having been done.

West Yorkshire Police seized the donkeys and passed them onto the RSPCA, who transported them to a Donkey Sanctuary funded home to receive specialist care and rehabilitation.

Magistrates stated this was a serious case and that Jemimah had suffered significantly. The two donkeys had not been provided with water, adequate vet treatment or farrier care and, in short, the donkeys’ needs were not met.

In addition to the five-year disqualification from keeping donkeys, Marshall was also handed an 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered him to pay £350 costs and a victim surcharge of £90.

Following the sentencing Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “We know that taking care of donkeys is a hugely rewarding experience, and it really is a privilege to own such endearing animals, but it comes with great responsibility.

"Donkeys require caring and compassionate management to ensure they lead healthy and enriched lives.

“Sadly situations like this are not uncommon. Lack of appropriate hoof care is still one of the most common welfare issues faced by donkeys in the UK today. Our welfare team works throughout Great Britain to offer advice and information about the easy steps that can be taken to avoid this type of suffering.”

More than a year has passed since Snowball and Jemima were rescued and although The Donkey Sanctuary has done all it can to keep Jemimah comfortable during her rehabilitation, her irreversible chronic hoof condition can only be managed.

Keira Benham, donkey welfare adviser from The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “Jemimah’s quality of life is being closely monitored and should her condition deteriorate, we will have to seriously consider the option of euthanasia as the last kind decision we make for her.

“We have prepared for this possibility by introducing Snowball and Jemimah to another donkey called Dolly, who is of a similar age, which mitigates the risk of Snowball suffering from stress if she were to lose her companion mum.”