Dog starved to death
South Tyneside, EN (UK)Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Martin Smith
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A dog named after David Beckham could have starved to death after being abandoned, a court heard. Springer spaniel Becks was almost 5kg underweight when neighbours alerted police, who handed him to RSPCA inspectors.
South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard the seven-year-old dog had been left for at least four days in the back garden of a property in Moor Lane, Whitburn, last July.
Becks's owner, Martin Smith was found guilty of neglect under the animal welfare act after the case was proved in his absence this week.
The court heard how RSPCA chiefs were first alerted to the dog's plight by neighbours on July 19.
When inspector Emma Ellis arrived at the property she found the dog in the back garden.
She told magistrates how she then taped up access points and left a note for the animal's owner.
But the next day those seals had not been broken, showing nobody had gone to see the dog.
Miss Ellis told the court: "I again managed to gain access to the rear of the property and
leave food and water for the dog."
She told magistrates how the dog was checked on by a neighbour the following day and by a colleague on July 22. Insp Ellis returned on July 23 to find the seals still intact.
Police were contacted and the dog was seized by officers and handed to the RSPCA.
Vet Kirsty Horseford who examined Becks, told the court how the animal was underweight and very thin.
Clive McKeag, prosecuting, said Smith, 44, told RSPCA officers he had only intended leaving the dog overnight but had become ill while away.
He had tried to contact his mother but had been leaving wrong messages.
Mr McKeag added: "This is an animal who had been left to fend for itself and would, if it was not for the intervention of the RSPCA, have dehydrated or starved to death."
Smith was not in court to hear magistrates deliver a guilty verdict.
Sentencing was adjourned.
Case UpdatesA businessman has been banned from keeping animals for seven years after he abandoned his dog to starve in his back garden.
South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how seven-year-old springer spaniel Becks was almost 5kg underweight when he was rescued by police and handed to RSPCA inspectors.
He'd been left for at least four days in the back garden of Martin Smith's property in Moor Lane, Whitburn, last July.
When RSPCA inspector Emma Ellis arrived at the house, she found the dog without food or water in the back garden.
She left food and water for the dog, but taped the entrances so she'd know whether the owner had returned in the meantime.
When the seals were still intact a day later, police seized the dog and handed it to the RSPCA.
The dog would have been rehomed and out of kennels, had the case come before the court more quickly.
But a string of delays, including Smith not turning up to court, meant the dog has languished in kennels since summer last year.
Smith didn't turn up for his trial in March this year, and was found guilty of neglect under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act after the case was proved in his absence.
David Forrester, defending, described how Smith had battled with personal problems and told the court Smith had taken the dog in from a shelter a number of years ago, and looked after it ever since.
But he left his home after a series of personal problems, including some with alcohol.
Smith admitted he should have made arrangements for the dog's care and later argued he would have returned to the address as soon as he'd sorted out his problems.
Denise Jackman, prosecuting, read out a report from vet Kirsty Horseford saying the dog could have starved without the RSPCA's intervention.
Chairman of the bench, the Rev Glynn Lister, sentenced him to a community supervision order for 18 months, ordered the ownership of the dog to be handed over the to RSPCA, and disqualified him from owning another animal for seven years.
He was ordered to pay £2,820 to pay for the care of the dog, and £1,000 in legal fees. | Source: Sunderland Echo - June 11, 2008
Update posted on Jun 11, 2008 - 6:32PM |
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