Life-long pets ban for Telford man over starving dog
A man whose dog was found in a "skeletal" condition has been banned from keeping animals for life.
Vets said the Staffordshire bull terrier had likely been suffering for about four weeks without adequate food before it was signed over to the RSPCA.
Lee Morris, 34, was also given a suspended sentence, told to complete 230 hours of unpaid work as well as being ordered to pay £1,718 and an £80 victim surcharge.
Morris of Viewlands Drive, Trench, Telford, admitted the charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Roger Price, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA , said officers visited his home after receiving calls of concern.
Mr Price said Morris was co-operative with officers, and admitted the animal was thin.
Mr Price, said: "The inspector was taken to the garden shed where the dog was.
"The dog was described as skeletal, its ribs could be seen and its eyes were sunken. The dog also appeared unsteady on its legs."
Morris told the inspector he had been intending to take the pet to the vet that evening to have it put down.
Morris signed the dog over to the RSPCA.
Mr Price told Telford Magistrates Court yesterday the dog weighed 7.45 kilos, when an ideal weight for the type of dog was 12.5 kilos and scored one in a body condition scale where one is emaciated and nine is obese.
Tests showed there was no illness that would cause the dog to refuse food and it ate "keenly" when fed.
Mr Price said: "It was the vet's opinion that the dog was in extremely poor body condition. It was clearly able to eat and very keen to eat. The period of suffering would likely have been four weeks."
The dog has since been taken on by a new family, who first fostered the animal, and has since got to 90 per cent of its ideal weightHe told the court Morris said the dog had been a family pet for 12 years, but there had been changes at the home as his wife had left four months before the visit by the RSPCA.
Probation officer Phil Kaleta said: "Mr Morris said he takes full responsibility , he knows its not right.
"At the time he had split up with his wife. He is quite a normal, hard working gentleman who has found himself in a bad patch through his divorce. He doesn't seek to excuse himself."
