Mum gets ban over starving dog
A single mother from Telford, who starved her springer spaniel until it looked like a "skeleton covered in skin", has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years. A single mother from Telford, who starved her springer spaniel until it looked like a "skeleton covered in skin", has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years. Unemployed 26-year-old Laura Hanson, of McCormick Drive, Shawbirch, who also has a pet cat, sobbed in court as RSPCA prosecutor Nick Sutton described the plight of her two-year-old bitch Poppy. Hanson admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Poppy when she appeared before Telford Magistrates Court yesterday. She was ordered to hand her cat over immediately to the RSPCA Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A single mother from Telford, who starved her springer spaniel until it looked like a "skeleton covered in skin", has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Unemployed 26-year-old Laura Hanson, of McCormick Drive, Shawbirch, who also has a pet cat, sobbed in court as RSPCA prosecutor Nick Sutton described the plight of her two-year-old bitch Poppy.
She was told by District Judge Kevin Grego: "If you let a dog almost literally starve to death at your feet as you are watching television, I don't want you to keep any animal in future for a long time."
He rejected Hanson's plea to let her keep her cat and ordered her to hand it over immediately to the RSPCA, which has already found a new home for Poppy.
He suggested Hanson found herself a job to pay £500 within a four-month deadline towards the £1,803 costs of bringing the case to court and treating Poppy.
He said he accepted Hanson's neglect of Poppy had been born out of ignorance and lack of money.
Hanson admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Poppy when she appeared before Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.
Mr Sutton said the alarm was raised on October 13 last year by the distressed young daughter of a neighbour who went into Ashcroft Vets, Shawbirch.
A vet went to Hanson's home and found Poppy in a state of collapse.
"She was very emaciated. There was no fat or muscle present and all the bones were easily visible," he said.
"She looked like a skeleton covered in skin."
Poppy was taken to the surgery and found to weigh just 7.9kg compared with the normal weight of a springer spaniel of 20 to 24kg. Poppy was dehydrated and unable to stand unsupported but ate ravenously when offered food and had since made a complete recovery.
Mrs Joanne Griffiths, for Hanson, said she had spoken to a vet's receptionist about Poppy's weight loss and a payment scheme for treatment but had not taken it any further.
She had given Poppy worming tablets and powders and had tried changing the diet but to no avail.
"She realises with hindsight that she neglected Poppy and didn't give her sufficient food," Mrs Griffiths added.
By Peter Johnson
'A skeleton covered in skin' was the description given to the court.
Poppy, a springer spaniel, was starved by her owner in Telford.
