A LEADING Borzoi breeder was last week ordered to cut down the number of dogs in her kennels after being found guilty of starving three of the dogs in her care.

Margaret Manning, 65, of Clapham, near Exeter who has been breeding Borzois for 30 years, and exhibits under the affix of Manitias, denied causing unnecessary suffering to two bitches named Krassina and Mischa and one dog called Camouflage.

Miss Manning claimed that only one of the three dogs belonged to her and that the other two belonged to a mystery woman who had left them with her for a week without leaving an address or contact telephone number.

She told Honiton magistrates last Thursday how the RSPCA raided her kennels five days after she took the three dogs in during the summer of 2001 and found the dogs among a total of 70 Borzois in her kennels, housed in 20 runs behind her home.

Miss Manning told the court that she had been ‘set up’ by jealous rivals within the Borzoi world, saying of the mystery woman: "No one has heard of this woman. She was a planted one. The two dogs were planted. The RSPCA does not realise this, but the world of Borzois and the world of dog showing is a very vindictive business. Borzois are my life and my family."

The three dogs were examined by a vet, who found them to be seriously underweight and emaciated to the point where their ribs and backbones were jutting out through their skin. One bitch had an untreated bite on her face.

Miss Manning told the court that the third dog, Krassina, who was her own, suffered from a digestive problem which she herself had treated through a special diet of monkfish, steamed chicken, cheese and yoghurt, and with homeopathic medication.

"She is one of the finest bred Borzois I have ever had," she said. "She is a breeding bitch and is qualified for Crufts, but I do not take her. I cannot take all my dogs to Crufts, I only take four or five, although last year I had 27 that qualified."

RSPCA Inspector Stephen Roach said that of the 70 Borzois he found at the kennels, he was particularly concerned about the three which were removed for treatment, He told the court: "One dog was skeletal and all its bones were visible and its backbone was prominent.
There seemed to be no muscle over the shoulders.

Not bothered

"The other dogs were again skeletal with very little muscle cover. I asked Miss Manning when the dogs had last seen a vet and she replied that she had not bothered because there was no need…

"There was a bite injury to the mouth of one animal with dried newspaper on it and all three dogs stuck out like a sore thumb."

Inspector Roach went on to say that he had interviewed Miss Manning who told him that although she did use a vet, she had an outstanding vets bill of £440 waiting to be paid, and that she spent £340 a week on food.

"When I asked her about the three dogs she replied that they were mentally insane and would not feed even though she had tried everything," he added. "She said she was suffering from jealousy in the showing and breeding world where you get a dirty name if you have more than five dogs.

The conditions at Miss Manning’s kennels were also cited as an area of concern, with much of the dogs’ shredded newspaper bedding being soiled and smelly.

Magistrates considered the evidence and found her guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the three dogs. They imposed a conditional discharge with £260 costs and ordered that the three dogs be given into the care of the RSPCA.

At present Miss Manning has 27 Borzois at her kennels and was told to reduce the number to 15 within 21 days. She declined to comment as she left court.

The three dogs have since made good progress at an RSPCA rescue centre and have put on weight rapidly.