An woman was sentenced in after she abandoned a dilapidated caravan containing a dog and 35 puppies.
Authorities were alerted to the vehicle after a concerned member of public reported it on 26 July 2021.
Police officers from attended with inspectors and discovered a mix of labradors, dachshunds and French bulldogs living in a state of squalor.
Body cam footage from police officers showed the terrified being rescued from the disgusting caravan.
Investigating officer, PC Marie Jenner, of the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team, said: “The whole floor was covered in faeces and urine soaked cardboard.
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Body cam footage from officers showed the puppies being rescued (Image: Sussex Police)
“There were exposed wires, nails and screws, and broken pieces of wood and tools throughout. The conditions were completely uninhabitable.
“The dogs were retrieved from the caravan and placed in makeshift pens where we provided them with bowls of water. They were drinking uncontrollably, which gave an indicate of their desperation to rehydrate.
“A vet arrived on scene and explained that the dogs were suffering – and would continue to suffer if left in these conditions – and therefore they were seized under the Animal Welfare Act.”
Following an assessment by RSPCA, 14 of the puppies were hospitalised, and one of the puppies sadly died as a result of starvation and dehydration.
CCTV footage revealed a woman had abandoned the caravan on Lister Road at 3am that morning. Checks showed the registered owner was Micaela Anderson-Letts, 35, of The Rowans, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex.
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35 puppies and a dog were rescued from a caravan in Eastbourne (Image: Sussex Police )
She was arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Between 24 and 26 July 2021, she caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to transport the dog and puppies in a satisfactory manner and failing to provide medical treatment she knew or ought reasonably to have known that the failure would have that effect or be likely to do so.
Anderson-Letts pleaded guilty to and was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.
She has also been banned from owning any animals until further notice.
PC Jenner added: “This has been an ongoing complex case by the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team, working with partnership agencies, local authorities and other police forces.
“It transpired that Anderson-Letts had previously been issued an animal banning order and showed complete disregard to the judicial system by continuing to involve herself with puppies.
“After lots of hard work and dedication over the past three years, I am happy that this case has finally come to a conclusion.
“I would like to thank all staff and officers involved, the RSPCA inspectors, vets, and vital witnesses who supported this investigation along with members of the public who assisted in the rescue of these innocent puppies. After the appropriate veterinary treatment and care the dogs were re-homed to loving families.”