A pet owner who left his two dogs to starve has been banned from owning animals for 10 years.
Phillip Walsh, 40, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his two bulldogs Duke and Queenie.
Duke was so emaciated that every bone in his body was visible and he had to be put to sleep.
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The RSCPA investigated thanks to a vet who reported Walsh when Duke collapsed at his surgery, as reported by Need to Know.
Duke had a body condition score of zero out of nine – the lowest possible. A healthy dog should score around five.
He was also severely dehydrated was euthanised to prevent further suffering.
In a statement to Crewe Magistrates Court, the vet who examined Duke said: “He [Walsh] said that his dog hadn’t been very well for a few days and he had been losing weight for the past four weeks.
“He said the dog was eating and drinking OK and that he did not have any vomiting or diarrhoea.
“He said he had only owned the dog a couple of months as the dog’s original owner was currently in prison.
“Duke was very cold and did not move at all from the table.
“I tried to take his temperature but it did not read on the thermometer.
“You could see every bone in his body.”
Post-mortem results showed that Duke’s death was likely due to prolonged starvation, with no medical condition found that could explain his extreme weight loss.
Animal welfare officer Nadine Pengilly found Queenie at the property.
She was also severely emaciated, with her spine, ribs and hip bones clearly showing.
She had a body condition score of just one to two.
Ms Pengilly said: “She also had untreated fleas, overgrown nails, and no water available in her enclosure.
“There were no blankets or bedding as he told me she chewed them up.
“There were two metal bowls inside this cage that were both empty.
“There was no water available so I asked Walsh to put some in one of the empty bowls, which he did.
“He told me he only had £50 to help get Duke to the vets and that he had no more money left to help Queenie.”
Queenie was immediately removed from the property and taken for urgent veterinary care at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
Vets later confirmed she was suffering from malnutrition and neglect.
She weighed just 21.4kg.
An RSPCA vet said: “The owner of Duke and Queenie did not meet their demands for an adequate diet, and both dogs suffered due to their underweight condition.
“I would expect a reasonable owner to see that live fleas and flea dirt were present and that both dogs were in a very poor body condition, prompting the need for early veterinary intervention.
“Based on the findings of the post-mortem report for Duke, the poor body condition could possibly have developed over a minimum two weeks, likely longer due to the severity of their condition.
“For Queenie, the poor body condition is also likely to have developed over a similar time period.
“Poor body condition can negatively impact welfare due to feelings of lethargy, weakness and hunger.
“This can limit the ability of a dog to perform normal behaviours and play, resulting in mental suffering.
“An underweight animal may be unable to interact normally with their environment or their social partners, which can affect their overall happiness and ability to thrive.”
Thankfully, Queenie gained weight and has gone on to become a healthy dog in a new home.
The court hearing on 15 July heard Walsh, from Crewe, Cheshire, had lost his job and was struggling financially.
As well as being banned from owning animals for 10 years, he was also handed an 18-month community order, 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was ordered to pay £400 in court costs, to be deducted from his benefits.
Ms Pengilly said: “It’s heartbreaking to think how much these dogs suffered – and for how long.
“When owners take on animals, they have a legal duty to meet their welfare needs, which includes providing a suitable diet, access to veterinary care and a safe environment.
“Both dogs were let down badly.”
The RSPCA is urging anyone struggling to care for their animals to seek help and advice before problems escalate.
Ms Pengilly added: “Please never ignore an animal in need.
“There is help out there – charities, vets and organisations can offer advice and support.
“No animal should be left to suffer like this.”
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