A starving Dalmatian was left in a Teessider's bedroom because he insisted the dog was his son's responsibility. RSPCA Inspector Laura Glover took Snoopy from the locked room in a house in Middlesbrough's Sandringham Road last April.
At Teesside Magistrates court George Hornsby, 57, denied animal cruelty, but was found guilty.
The inspector had received complaints about two dogs living at Hornsby's home in late 2003, the court heard. She investigated, but failed to speak to anyone until her 17th visit to the property.
That time she spoke to Hornsby's son Craig and saw Snoopy, who at that time was in a fine condition.
Simon Catterall, prosecuting, told the court that later the RSPCA was getting more calls saying the dog was "a bag of bones".
Insp Glover said she called another ten times at the house, each time leaving a business card urging Hornsby to call her.
She called housing officers and the police and got into Hornsby's home. She then recovered Snoopy from a locked bedroom.
In interview he told the inspector Snoopy was his son's and so was not his responsibility.
He said he fed the animal "now and again" and admitted neglecting the dog.
But when the case against Hornsby reached court he pleaded not guilty to cruelty.
Vet Michael Simpson told the court Snoopy was extremely emaciated. He said the dog weighed 16kgs - only two thirds of what it should have weighed.
Hornsby told the court he cared about animals and had rescued his dog after it had been dumped in a beck. He told the court his son had wanted to get a dog and he had said no.
But within days his son got Snoopy, but struggled to keep it. So Hornsby said the animal could stay with him as long as his son fed it.
Hornsby said Snoopy had been locked in the bedroom for two days after cutting his leg and insisted his son had been feeding the dog.
Magistrates ordered Hornsby to complete a 60-hour community punishment order, banned him from keeping animals for five years and ordered him to pay �200 costs. References« Back to Search Results
|
