A cruel man who starved two dogs so badly that they had to be put down has been banned from keeping animals for life.
Ryan Scandrett admitted causing unnecessary suffering to lurcher, Rocky, and shepherd-type dog, Max.
The emaciated mutts were found in a car near Scandrett’s home and reported to the RSPCA.
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They were both severely unwell, and Max couldn’t stop retching.
Vets had no choice but to euthanise the dogs to prevent further suffering.
The 37-year-old, of Bradford, West Yorks, was also given a year-long community order requiring 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £600 and a victim surcharge of £114.
RSPCA Inspector, Leanne Booth, said: “As I turned onto the road, I was met with a large crowd of people and several police officers.
“Some of the members of the public who had gathered were crying, some were angry, and others could be heard talking on mobile phones, saying how disgusting it was.
“One of the dogs was called Rocky.
“He was upright; it was very dark, but under the streetlight that was shining into the vehicle, I could see he was in extremely poor condition, all his bones were visible.
“I asked if the dogs could walk, and I was told they could, but they were very unsteady when walking, especially Max.
“I picked Rocky up and carried him to my vehicle. For a dog of his breed and size, I was surprised how light he was.
“As I was carrying him, I could feel every bone in his body.”
Max’s ribs, spine, hips, leg bones, shoulder blades and skull were clearly visible – unusual in double-coated breeds such as shepherd-type dogs.
Both dogs were exhausted and weak, as reported by Need to Know.
Rocky was unable to stand, and then he began vomiting, bringing up pieces of a raw chicken carcass.
The vet found that the dogs were “lethargic, depressed and weak” and both were emaciated.
The vet said that the dogs’ weakness, lethargy and malaise were due to chronic malnutrition.
She added that they would have experienced discomfort because they couldn’t lie down comfortably, and they would have found it difficult to maintain their body temperature.
Their immune systems were suppressed, and they would have experienced severe hunger and gastrointestinal distress due to chronic malnutrition.
Both dogs were also feeling frustration, anxiety and depression.
Inspector Booth added: “It is a pet owner’s legal responsibility to properly look after any animal in their care.
“Poor Rocky and Max were starved by Scandrett to the point where they had no chance of recovering – and he failed to seek veterinary treatment, which could have alleviated their suffering.”
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