WARNING: article contains distressing images
A PET owner from Prescot who failed to get veterinary care or investigate the cause of her "emaciated" dog's body condition and weight loss has been banned from keeping animals for ten years.
Three-year-old Scooby was rescued by the RSPCA in February after he was found curled up on a dirty cushion at the property on Kingsway in Prescot, weighing only 20 kg (44.09 pounds). He was described as 'emaciated and desperately hungry'.
The RSPCA charity had been contacted about a thin dog who had been seen at the address.
The Inspector who found him said he was one of the thinnest dogs she had ever seen that was still standing.
The lurcher has now almost doubled in weight in the care of the charity’s Wirral & Chester Branch animal centre in Wallasey and is hoping to find a loving new home in time for Christmas.
Images released by the RSPCA show the heart-warming transformation.
The court heard how RSPCA Inspector Lisa Lupson had gone to Danher’s address in Kingsway, Prescot, on February 6 this year after the charity had been contacted about a thin dog who had been seen at the address.
In her written evidence to the court the Inspector said: "Inside a utility area that was off the kitchen I saw a tan coloured lurcher type dog curled up on a dirty cushion.
"I was informed the dog was called Scooby. I was shocked by his bodily condition. He was emaciated with every single bone protruding from beneath his skin.
The small space in which Scooby was being kept contained three empty bowls. As the dog went into the kitchen he immediately approached the sink and the Inspector watched as he drank eagerly from the tap.
Danher said she fed Scooby and showed Inspector Lupson a small amount of dried food that said it was suitable for small dogs only, and two tins of meat.
She said Scooby had always struggled with his weight and admitted that she was not registered with a vet and had never seen one.
The court heard that Scooby was taken for immediate veterinary care where he readily ate food and appeared desperately hungry. He also drank vigorously.
The vet who examined Scooby gave him a body condition score of one out of nine.
She said he had no discernible body fat and obvious loss of muscle mass and his ribs, back and pelvic bones were all evident from a distance.
Magistrates were told he was dehydrated and had sunken eyes, one of which had a cloudy discharge and there were multiple pressure sores on his back, tail and right ankle.
In her written statement to the court the vet said: "There were no pathological reasons found on the clinical examination or bloods to account for this poor condition, therefore it is likely due to negative energy balance through not receiving enough food.
“Being under conditioned will have caused Scooby to suffer unnecessarily. He will have been weak and lethargic and this will have caused him to spend a long time recumbent. This is evidenced by the pressure sores noted.
“This will have affected his everyday life, ability to ambulate, to obtain food and water or play. This loss of condition has occurred over a minimum period of two weeks, however it is likely that this could have been longer.
"Regardless of the cause of the poor body condition and pressure sores and whether treatable or not, veterinary treatment should have been sought much earlier in this case.”
In an interview with the RSPCA Danher, who was also ordered to carry out 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 100 hours of unpaid work, described herself as a 'responsible' pet owner, but admitted she had made a mistake and should have got advice sooner.
She told the Inspector that Scooby was underweight but was 'fine in himself'. She said he was fed two and a bit tins of food a day and would gain weight but then lose it again.
She said she was too worried to take him to the vets in case they put him down, but apart from his weight, everything else about him was fine.
Wirral & Chester Branch Animal Centre manager Kay Hawthorn said: "Scooby was skeletal when he arrived, he was so weak and listless that we weren’t sure whether he was going to make it.
"The vet said it was likely he would have died of starvation within a couple of days if he hadn’t been found.
"He now weighs almost 38 kg and is a larger than life character who's great company. He has a real zest for life and his transformation has been heartening to see.
"Being a lurcher he loves to run, so he’ll need a home with a good amount of space and new owners who are willing to give him lots of exercise and mental stimulation to keep him happy and occupied.
"We’d love to see Scooby settled in his own home in time for Christmas and we’d appeal to anyone who thinks they can offer him the right home to get in touch."
Inspector Lupson said after the hearing: “This was a very sad and upsetting case of neglect. Scooby was one of the thinnest dogs that I had ever seen that was still standing.
"I’m so pleased we got to him in time and he’s made a full recovery thanks to the staff at our wonderful centre in Wallasey.
"He really deserves to find his forever home and live a fantastic life after the terrible ordeal he went through."
To apply to adopt Scooby visit his rehoming page on the RSPCA’s Wirral & Chester Branch website to find out more about the sort of home he is looking for. A Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bruce was also signed over into RSPCA care by Danher. He is also at the Wallasey centre and is looking for a new home.
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