A narrowboat docked in Coventry has been described as squalid after two dogs were found in a state of severe neglect, one of which had died from starvation.
Lisa Marie Riddell has been barred from owning animals for ten years following the discovery of two dogs under her care suffering from serious neglect at her vessel moored in a scenic canalside spot in Coventry.
Riddell’s narrowboat is moored on the Oxford Canal at Sutton Stop, where she appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court this month. She admitted guilt to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
Labrador-cross Milo had perished from starvation by the time RSPCA officers arrived, while Staffordshire Bull Terrier Scooby was found underweight and surviving in filthy conditions within a derelict toilet facility close to her boat.
The 32-year-old had been given responsibility for Milo’s wellbeing when she left him by himself on the vessel. Her own canine companion, Scooby, was discovered living in dreadful circumstances – the frightened animal was in such a bad state that he had to be put down afterwards.
The court issued a ten-year prohibition on keeping any animals, together with a twelve-month community sentence including 25 rehabilitation activity days and 300 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £350 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Lydia Andrews visited Riddell’s narrowboat on the Oxford Canal on 15 September 2025 following reports about dogs being neglected. When she arrived, she was taken aboard where Milo’s remains were shown to her.
In her account, ARO Andrews stated she saw Milo lying dead wrapped in a sheet. Upon examination, his ribs, spine and hip bones were clearly visible, indicating an extremely poor body condition.
She described the vessel as cluttered and dirty, with a powerful smell of excrement, noting the conditions were unhygienic. After seeking police help, a member of the public directed her to a nearby abandoned toilet block, where two-year-old Staffie-type dog Scooby was found.
ARO Andrews continued that Scooby was severely underweight, with noticeable ribs and a tucked stomach. He also had yellow staining on his lower body. She noted he seemed extremely timid and reserved, displaying signs of considerable suffering.
Sutton Stop
Police removed Scooby and transported him to the RSPCA’s Birmingham facility for assessment. Veterinarians discovered him to be highly anxious, dangerously thin and covered in faeces, weighing just 17 kilograms.
He received a body condition rating of two out of nine, confirming he was starving. Unfortunately, Scooby was subsequently destroyed after his intense fear led to worries about aggressive behaviour, with behaviour specialists determining he could not be safely placed in a new home.
Milo, meanwhile, weighed merely 19.4 kilograms and received a body condition rating of one out of nine. The court was informed in her defence that Riddell experienced profound guilt about her conduct, having struggled with mental health problems which had overcome her.
RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones, who managed the inquiry, said after sentencing that he was glad justice could be achieved for Milo, Scooby and Milo’s owners, who were heartbroken to lose him after believing they had left him in the care of someone they could trust.