A woman from the Forest of Dean has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy and neglecting the welfare of several other animals in her care. Following an official warrant execution, animals were seized from her property, with the injured puppy tragically euthanised due to the severity of its condition.
At Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on July 8, 2025, Philippa Tovey of Greenacre, Bream, pleaded guilty under the Animal Welfare Act to causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy and failing to meet the needs of five dogs and two guinea pigs.
The search warrant was executed on November 7, 2023, at Tovey’s Drybrook residence by a coordinated team including Forest of Dean Council’s Street Wardens, the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, and Gloucestershire Police.
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Seized during the operation were two Rottweilers, two French Bulldogs, an XL Bully dog puppy, and two guinea pigs, all living in poor conditions. While the animals were later handed over by Tovey for rehoming, the puppy’s injuries were so severe that a veterinarian was forced to euthanise it.
Tovey received a 12-week suspended prison sentence, with the suspension lasting 12 months. She was ordered to pay £1,500 in council costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Additionally, she has been indefinitely disqualified from owning dogs, cats, small furry animals, and small mammals.
Forest of Dean District Council leader Councillor Adrian Birch emphasised the importance of animal welfare and the council’s commitment to enforcing it: “We owe it to animals to ensure they live free from pain and neglect. Our teams work tirelessly to protect them and bring offenders to justice. This verdict reinforces that responsibility.”
Anyone suspecting animal welfare issues is urged to contact the Forest of Dean Street Wardens at [email protected].
This prosecution was led by the council’s Street Wardens team, with support from the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit and the Legal team.