Starving dog left to chew through tin cans to get at food in Barrow-on-Humber
The man in charge of a dog found in a severely emaciated condition has been banned from owning any animal indefinitely.
Michael McDonald, formerly of Glanford Grove, Barrow-Upon-Humber, failed to feed the dog for up to four weeks, leaving it to chew through tin cans in search of food.
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The dog was found in an emaciated state
McDonald, 20, was found guilty of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal after a trial at North Lincolnshire Magistrates' Court.
Nigel Burn, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court McDonald was put in charge of the dog while his mother looked for somewhere to live.
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Mr Burn said: "The defendant clearly has difficulty looking after himself, never mind any other animals.
"The disqualification from owning an animal will mean that he won't be able to be in this situation again."
Officers attended the property on December 27 over concerns about the well-being of the dog.
McDonald told officers at the time that everything was fine.
"Then, on January 26, the electricity board obtained a warrant and contacted officers after finding a dog in a clearly emaciated state," Mr Burn said.
Anna Hugenholtz, a vet at the Swanbridge Veterinary Group in the Hull area, visited the house at the request of the RSPCA.
"Upon entering the address, I noticed that the floor was very wet and there was a stench of urine," her statement read.
"The kitchen was littered with household rubbish and tin cans that had been chewed through by the dog.
"There was also dog faeces on the floor that had been there for some time, as mould was growing on it."
Mrs Hugenholtz said the dog was in an emaciated state and she believed the dog to be suffering from lack of nourishment.
After examination, she said she felt that the dog had suffered from lack of food for up to four weeks.
"I carried out further examination on the young male dog and found it to be emaciated," she said.
"The dog weighed 11.6kg and had mild conjunctivitis in its left eye.
"I was of the opinion this was due to insufficient diet for a dog of its size."
After being taken in to the care of the vets, the dog went from 11.6kg to 18.5kg in just four months. In a pre-sentence report on McDonald, his mother, who was not named, said: "Michael can't even look after himself properly".
However, she did admit to leaving the dog in his care.
Richard Lunn, mitigating, said: "He did not actively mistreat the dog.
McDonald was ordered to pay court costs of £500 and a vets bill of £48.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We are satisfied with the sentence and it reflects the seriousness of the offence."
Comments
by honeybun67
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:30PM
“i do wish the R.S.P.C.A were more ruthless on all cruelty cases. I reported a man keeping 2 cats in a wire run at the bottom of his garden, they were in a skeletol state, with no food, adish with some foul green stuff in that once maybe was water .a cat tray with no cat litt in only cat faeses. after a visit from this so called animal charity these poor creatures are still there.how can this be!!! SHAME ON THEM.”
by delboyseven
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 4:16PM
“this is just the tip of the iceberg find more and lock them up”
by gordonio
Friday, September 28 2012, 3:38PM
“A lot of knee-jerk reactions here. Both of the people concerned in this article are obviously lacking in grey matter.
I don't condone what has happened to this poor animal, they probably just haven't a clue of right from wrong, and how to look after pets, at least the creature was found in time, and I hope it has a lovely new home by now.”
by scunnyexile
Friday, September 28 2012, 3:12PM
“The differences between ordinary folk and solicitors are that solicitors can talk a load of tripe in court without needing a good drink and get very well paid for it.”
by WNxbadboy3
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:54PM
“they should be locked up with no food nor drink. like the dog didn't get it's dog food nor drink.”
by ArthurLast
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:46PM
“Absolutely disgusting, and as for his defense solicitor Richard Lunn to say "He did not actively mistreat the dog." - its utterly unbelievable that a so called intelligent person should utter such rubbish by way of defense. Mr Lunn - refusing an animal food and not looking after it *is* actively mistreating it.
While I don't agree with the use of violence, I agree with the sentement of WNxbadboy3 saying that both McDonald and his mother who's dog it was should both be locked up.
What a sickening pair of individuals.”
by WNxbadboy3
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:18PM
“As i always say if a dog is left own its own starving ect. so should the owner should get the same treatment then they will think twice about it!.”
by ewbfchamp
Friday, September 28 2012, 10:19AM
“Why do editors and reporters need to put this sort of thing into print as it is not NEWS and is extremely upsetting for a lot of people? If they do not want people to out THEIR feelings into print, don't do it. I have twice written a post explaining my disgust at this person's behaviour and it has been removed.”
by ewbfchamp
Friday, September 28 2012, 10:11AM
“This disgusting man should receive the same treatment - fasten him up somewhere without food for a month - or even longer. His mother admitted he could not look after himself so why did she leave the dog with him when she knew this ??? She must have known what was happening but has now not got the courage to be named. She is as much to blame as him and should also be fined. Where is he now? I sincerely hope someone monitors his future actions.”
by ewbfchamp
Friday, September 28 2012, 10:06AM
“This disgusting man should receive the same treatment - fasten him up somewhere without food for a month - or even longer. His mother admitted he could not look after himself so why did she leave the dog with him when she knew this ??? She must have known what was happening but has now not got the courage to be named. She is as much to blame as him and should also be fined. Where is he now? I sincerely hope someone monitors his future actions.”