A woman from the Forest of Dean has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy and neglecting the needs of several other animals in her care. Philippa Tovey of Greenacre, Bream, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on July 8, 2025, to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy and one count of failing to meet the welfare needs of five dogs and two guinea pigs.
Following a warrant executed at her Drybrook property on November 7, 2023, multiple agencies including the Forest of Dean District Council Street Warden team, the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, and Gloucestershire Police intervened. As a result, two Rottweilers, two French Bulldogs, one XL Bully puppy, and two guinea pigs were seized due to concerns about their poor health and living conditions.
Tragically, the puppy’s injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanised by a veterinarian. Ms. Tovey later relinquished all seized animals to the council for rehoming.
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Tovey was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. She was ordered to pay £1,500 in council costs and a victim surcharge of £154. Additionally, she has been indefinitely banned from owning dogs, cats, small furries, and other small mammals.
Councillor Adrian Birch, leader of Forest of Dean District Council, expressed gratitude to the agencies involved, emphasizing the responsibility of animal owners to provide safe and humane care. He stressed the importance of the council’s ongoing work to protect animals from mistreatment and encouraged the public to report any welfare concerns to the Street Warden team.
Animal welfare investigations in the Forest of Dean remain a priority, with authorities urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspected neglect promptly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all animals in the community.