Former Hull pet shop owner convicted of animal cruelty

A former pet shop owner has been banned from keeping exotic animals after she was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to snakes, the RSPCA said.

The charity's inspectors visited Andrea Maxine Darnell's shop in Hull in May 2023 after concerns were raised about the welfare of the animals.

She was issued with Animal Welfare Notices to improve conditions.

A month later a second inspection uncovered six snakes "in particularly poor condition".

Five corn snakes and one Royal Python were cold to the touch, underweight and close to death, the RSPCA said.

The snakes were seized and soon after the council revoked the pet-shop owner's licence.

All of the snakes died and a vet reported that they had been dehydrated and extremely emaciated, with significant weight loss, the RSPCA said.

They had suffered from snake mites and some showed suggestions of metabolic bone disease with starvation and dehydration as the probable cause of death.

Darnell, 59, of Wivern Road, Hull, was prosecuted by the charity at Hull Magistrates' Court last month and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the snakes.

As well as the 10-year ban, she was also sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work and must pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

RSPCA Inspector Laura Barber said: "It was this individual's legal responsibility to care for her animals and she failed to do this.

"There was no excuse for not providing those poor snakes with their basic needs and failing to seek veterinary care for them when it was abundantly clear that they so desperately needed it."

The Diamond Exotic shop on Savile Street is under new ownership, according to records at Companies House.

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