A CHATTERIS couple could be banned from keeping all animals after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their six-year-old German Shepherd, which led to it being put down.
On Friday, Fenland Magistrates kept all punishment options open for Paula and John Day, of 8 Eastbourne Road, who were charged with not taking their dog Becky to the vet for a long-term skin condition.
Julian Hunt, prosecuting, explained the charg
e related to a period of neglect from June 28 to October 18 2007.
In 2001 the RSPCA visited the family home and advised them to have Becky seen by a vet and they had complied.
However, when inspectors visited again on October 18 last year they found the dog in such a bad condition they immediately called the police and local vet Nick Valley.
The dog was taken into RSPCA care and was found to have an ‘obvious skin condition’ including alopecia, and was bleeding, with pieces of skin hanging off. The skin also smelt and was crusty and very sore.
“Her claws were long which is a classic case of neglect,” said Mr Hunt who added that Becky needed to be put down to end her suffering, which had been going on for months, if not years.
Mr Hunt read a statement from PC Hansford, a former dog-handler for the prison service, was called to the premises, who said it was possibly the worst case he had ever seen.
In interview, Paula Day (41) admitted not taking Becky to the vet for four years despite the skin condition and admitted the dog hadn’t been walked in public for 12 months.
She also said she thought the puss in Becky’s eyes was sleep and was going to take her to the vet soon.
John Day (51) confirmed in interview it had been four years since a vet visit. However, he said he wasn’t aware of any eye problems.
David Chapple, defending, said it was a case of “none so blind as those who will not see”.
He explained that because they lived with the animal every day, they didn’t see a change in its condition.
“In this case, they really did not recognise there was a problem,” added Mr Chapple. He said the dog wasn’t deliberately mistreated and it seemed happy enough, and didn’t whine or complain.
Mr Chapple argued the prosecution can’t say how long the suffering went on and showed magistrates pictures of Becky allegedly taken by the couple in September 2006, which he said showed she was in a good condition.
Mr Chapple said the couple were embarrassed by the situation and explained Becky was on medication for her problems.
Magistrates adjourned the case to March 4 for a pre-sentence report.
