"It was immediately obvious that the dogs' welfare was never a priority”

An “exploited” Sheffield woman was found to be keeping over 40 dogs in squalid conditions at a city allotment - where she slept with a gas stove to care for the animals.

Amini Ato, aged 52, took in the unwanted pooches at Infield Lane allotments, Darnall, with “no financial motivation or malicious intent”, said a judge.

Police and RSPCA officers found the animals - some of whom had suffered for “months” - in “dirty and soiled” conditions with “weeping” skin conditions | SYP

placeholder image — Police and RSPCA officers found the animals - some of whom had suffered for “months” - in “dirty and soiled” conditions with “weeping” skin conditions | SYP

However Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that on May 2, 2024, police and RSPCA officers found the animals - some of whom had suffered for “months” - in “dirty and soiled” conditions with “weeping” skin problems.

Three of the dogs had to be put down and several XL Bullies were seized during the raid.

The court heard mum-of-four Ato had been having the dogs’ medical treatments done by a charitable Chesterfield vet who asked very little in payment.

However when the practice was taken over by a new company she was “unable to pay the bills”.

Her solicitor Chris Wong said: “She was sleeping in the allotments with a little gas stove so she could be with them (the dogs).

“She would feed the animals at the allotments and then go off to work in the morning.”

Ato, of Middle Hay Place, Gleadless Valley, had no previous convictions.

Amini Ato was keeping over 40 dogs in squalid conditions at a city allotments - where she slept with a “gas stove” to care for the animals | SYP

Mahee Ali, prosecuting, said an American bulldog found at the kennel “set-up” with “weeping calluses” and infected ears had been suffering for months.

Another bulldog-type dog with a discharging skin condition had to be euthanised along with an elderly German Shepherd which had degenerative spinal disease, sore eyes and stiff joints.

Handing Ato 18 weeks’ jail suspended for four months, District Judge Tim Spruce said: “I’m prepared to accept the context of what happened here.

Three of the dogs had to be put down and several XL Bullies were seized during the raid. | SYP

“There was perhaps an element of exploitation by others and your own inability to cope with the circumstances you found yourself in. There was no financial motivation or malicious intent.

“But that means nothing in terms of the suffering which the dogs received - it went on for a number of months.”

Ato admitted causing unnecessary suffering and having custody of a fighting dog.

The officer in charge of the case, PC Dean Leadwood said: "What was uncovered was nothing short of heartbreaking and no animal should ever be forced to live in the conditions we found them in.

"It was immediately obvious that the dogs' welfare was never a priority.

"While some dogs had to be sadly put to sleep, many were rehabilitated in RSPCA care and went on to find loving homes.

“This is also an opportunity for anyone looking to buy a dog to carry out checks and research into the breeder and where your puppy is coming from."