Woman banned from keeping animals after 'inhumane' botched attempt to stitch her cat's wound herself
A woman has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after using cotton thread to sew up her cat’s surgery wound.
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Nunia the cat was left with an injured bladder after her owner, Adella Hiscova, used cotton thread to sew up her wound herself at home in Bilston, rather than take her back to see a vet.
Hiscova, aged 27 and now of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences of unneccesary suffering after an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
The charity was contacted with concerns after Nunia was presented to a vet on July 14, 2023 for issues relating to her surgical spay wound, ten days after the surgery.
In their report, the vet said: “I reviewed the clinical records which stated that the spay wound had initially broken down and had been treated professionally, but after a further breakdown, the owner had stitched her wound with cotton themselves.
“It is my professional opinion that suturing a wound in this manner in a conscious animal would be very distressing and painful and would have required firm handling and restraint. This procedure was inhumane and in my opinion caused unnecessary suffering and trauma to Nunia.
“On presentation, Nunia was quiet and alert. Her left flank wound had a necrotic smell to it and required debriding and re-suturing. Nunia also passed blood-red urine and given the circumstances, I was concerned about damage to her bladder and possible peritonitis.
“I performed a midline incision to better establish any damage that may have been caused to her internal organs.
Upon examination, no peritonitis was found but her bladder was markedly thickened and had areas of haemorrhage over approximately 80 per cent of it, the only normal portion being near to the underside neck of the bladder.
“In my opinion, the trauma to the bladder and subsequent haematuria were most likely the result of Nunia being firmly restrained.”
The offences were carried out at Hiscova's former home in Ettingshall Road.
In mitigation, she said she had experienced a lack of finances and difficulties within her relationship, which had caused additional problems because of money she had spent on trips to the vet with Nunia.
Alongside the animal ban, she was also sentenced to 17 weeks' custody, suspended for 12 months, ten rehabilitation activity days and a £154 victim surcharge when she appeared for sentencing at Kirklees Magistrates Court on February 11.
RSPCA Inspector Vicki Taylor, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.
"Owning an animal is a privilege - and ensuring appropriate veterinary care when they need it is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.”
