AN RSPCA whistleblower killed herself after publicly accusing the charity of killing thousands of healthy animals, an inquest heard yesterday. Animal welfare officer Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, was dismissed after arguing with her manager and later accused the organisation of putting down pets that could not be re-homed. Just five months after she helped reveal how the RSPCA had destroyed 53,000 animals in a year, the mother-of-four was discovered dead at home. Praised: Dawn Aubrey-Ward is given a certificate for rescuing a lamb while working for the animal welfare charity as an inspector . The inquest heard she was suffering . from depression after her partner Rob Colclough took his own life in . October 2011. She was also experiencing financial difficulties and had . issues with alcohol when she hanged herself at her home in Martock, . Somerset, on May 8. In a . statement read to the inquest in Wells, Somerset, her father Dennis . Aubrey said she was ‘deeply distressed’ by the whistleblowing furore. Summarising . the statement, coroner Tony Williams said: ‘Following time at the RSPCA . she was increasingly frustrated with her line manager. That led to . incidents and her being dismissed by the RSPCA. Animal lover: Ms Aubrey-Ward, 43, was found hanged at her home in Somerset in May . ‘She started a new relationship. She moved in with a new man in her life along with her children. 'Sadly in October 2011 he had himself taken his own life. 'He himself was battling with depression and that Dawn herself was devastated by that and became depressed and needed the support of family and friends around her.' Allegations: Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, said she was forced to put down healthy pets during two years working for the charity . Miss Aubrey-Ward publicly accused the charity of unnecessarily killing animals in an interview with The Mail on Sunday, published in late December last year. She had described her horror, during her time as an RSPCA inspector, at having to euthanise what she called ‘healthy animals’. Mr Aubrey added: 'Dawn expressed she was greatly distressed by that sequence of events.' She worked for the RSPCA between 2008 and 2010 and had a number of arguments with her line manager before she was dismissed. While details were not heard in the inquest, it was reported that Miss Aubrey-Ward was rebuked for refusing to issue a formal 'caution' to a devastated pensioner whose cat had contracted emphysema and was dying in his lap. She was also allegedly reprimanded for the theft of a tortoise, which she claimed to have taken home for safekeeping. She went public to tell of the horror she faced putting down animals because there was not enough room to house them in shelters. The RSPCA vigorously denied her claims and issued a statement seeking to discredit her account. In a statement issued in January, it said: 'Please be aware that Dawn Aubrey-Ward is a disgruntled former employee of the RSPCA who was subject to a disciplinary investigation for alleged theft of animals. She left the organisation with matters still pending.' Her mother Jean Newport wept as she heard about her daughter's final hours and was supported by her husband Michael and Dawn's father Dennis. Simon Ward, her husband, was also in court. The pair split up many years ago but were still married. The inquest heard her car had broken down and she had called her daughter from her first marriage Aimee Redfern-Ward, and asked her to pick up her two younger daughters from school. Meanwhile a friend gave her a lift home. She was also experiencing financial difficulties and had issues with alcohol when she took her own life at her hom . When Aimee arrived at the house with her two half-sisters, she discovered her mother's body. The inquest heard her suicide followed months of visits to her doctor, who prescribed anti-depressants and cognitive therapy sessions. Community mental health nurse Dee Holbourne said Miss Aubrey-Ward was struggling with bereavement, her finances, alcohol issues and a lack of sleep and appetite. She also thought she might be suffering from bi-polar disorder, she added. Recording a conclusion that she took her own life, coroner Mr Williams said: 'All of these pressures that were on her at the time and all of these issues for me go to that question of intent. 'Whilst I absolutely accept that in accordance with Mrs Newport's evidence that Dawn has acted on the spur of the moment without any formulated plan, I am satisfied that it is appropriate to conclude that Dawn did take her own life.'
Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, went public with her concerns about the charity .
She was found hanged in her home in Martock, Somerset .
The inquest heard she suffered from depression after her partner's suicide .
For confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
AN RSPCA whistleblower killed herself after publicly accusing the charity of killing thousands of healthy animals, an inquest heard yesterday. Animal welfare officer Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, was dismissed after arguing with her manager and later accused the organisation of putting down pets that could not be re-homed. Just five months after she helped reveal how the RSPCA had destroyed 53,000 animals in a year, the mother-of-four was discovered dead at home. Praised: Dawn Aubrey-Ward is given a certificate for rescuing a lamb while working for the animal welfare charity as an inspector . The inquest heard she was suffering . from depression after her partner Rob Colclough took his own life in . October 2011. She was also experiencing financial difficulties and had . issues with alcohol when she hanged herself at her home in Martock, . Somerset, on May 8. In a . statement read to the inquest in Wells, Somerset, her father Dennis . Aubrey said she was ‘deeply distressed’ by the whistleblowing furore. Summarising . the statement, coroner Tony Williams said: ‘Following time at the RSPCA . she was increasingly frustrated with her line manager. That led to . incidents and her being dismissed by the RSPCA. Animal lover: Ms Aubrey-Ward, 43, was found hanged at her home in Somerset in May . ‘She started a new relationship. She moved in with a new man in her life along with her children. 'Sadly in October 2011 he had himself taken his own life. 'He himself was battling with depression and that Dawn herself was devastated by that and became depressed and needed the support of family and friends around her.' Allegations: Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, said she was forced to put down healthy pets during two years working for the charity . Miss Aubrey-Ward publicly accused the charity of unnecessarily killing animals in an interview with The Mail on Sunday, published in late December last year. She had described her horror, during her time as an RSPCA inspector, at having to euthanise what she called ‘healthy animals’. Mr Aubrey added: 'Dawn expressed she was greatly distressed by that sequence of events.' She worked for the RSPCA between 2008 and 2010 and had a number of arguments with her line manager before she was dismissed. While details were not heard in the inquest, it was reported that Miss Aubrey-Ward was rebuked for refusing to issue a formal 'caution' to a devastated pensioner whose cat had contracted emphysema and was dying in his lap. She was also allegedly reprimanded for the theft of a tortoise, which she claimed to have taken home for safekeeping. She went public to tell of the horror she faced putting down animals because there was not enough room to house them in shelters. The RSPCA vigorously denied her claims and issued a statement seeking to discredit her account. In a statement issued in January, it said: 'Please be aware that Dawn Aubrey-Ward is a disgruntled former employee of the RSPCA who was subject to a disciplinary investigation for alleged theft of animals. She left the organisation with matters still pending.' Her mother Jean Newport wept as she heard about her daughter's final hours and was supported by her husband Michael and Dawn's father Dennis. Simon Ward, her husband, was also in court. The pair split up many years ago but were still married. The inquest heard her car had broken down and she had called her daughter from her first marriage Aimee Redfern-Ward, and asked her to pick up her two younger daughters from school. Meanwhile a friend gave her a lift home. She was also experiencing financial difficulties and had issues with alcohol when she took her own life at her hom . When Aimee arrived at the house with her two half-sisters, she discovered her mother's body. The inquest heard her suicide followed months of visits to her doctor, who prescribed anti-depressants and cognitive therapy sessions. Community mental health nurse Dee Holbourne said Miss Aubrey-Ward was struggling with bereavement, her finances, alcohol issues and a lack of sleep and appetite. She also thought she might be suffering from bi-polar disorder, she added. Recording a conclusion that she took her own life, coroner Mr Williams said: 'All of these pressures that were on her at the time and all of these issues for me go to that question of intent. 'Whilst I absolutely accept that in accordance with Mrs Newport's evidence that Dawn has acted on the spur of the moment without any formulated plan, I am satisfied that it is appropriate to conclude that Dawn did take her own life.'
heard she was suffering . from depression after she hanged herself at her home in Martock, . Animal lover: Ms Aubrey-Ward, 43, was found new man in her life along with her children. Allegations: Dawn Aubrey-Ward, 43, said she was working for the charity . Miss Aubrey-Ward home for safekeeping. She went public to tell of body. The inquest heard her suicide followed