Cruel dog owner starved pet
This was the reaction of a dog owner as she left court having admitted allowing her emaciated pet to lose half its weight.
Rebecca Marks, from Wallace Close in Oldbury, says she never took her Staffordshire Bull Terrier to a vet because she was afraid people would think she had beaten it.
The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, called Diesel, when she appeared before West Bromwich Magistrates Court yesterday.
She also pleaded guilty to one charge of keeping her dog in unsuitable conditions and another charge of failing to keep her cat in suitable living conditions.
The court heard that Marks kept her dog on the balcony of her flat because she was scared he might attack her 10-week-old kitten who was kept locked in the kitchen.
Marks failed to feed the dog properly and allowed its weight to drop to just 30lbs between May 3 and June 3 last year.
The ideal weight of the dog should have been more than 66lbs.
The condition of the dog was rated at just one out 10 on a scale of health after it was picked up by RSPCA officers on June 3. Prosecuting, Mr Nick Sutton, told the court: "The dog was not being fed properly – it was being starved and it was in a dreadful condition.
"When she was questioned by the police she said that she was too scared to take the dog to the vets because of the weight loss and was worried somebody might think she had been beating it.
Diesel was said to be so thin that he was close to death and his bones could clearly be seen through his fur.
Marks is due back in court on March 10.
The kitten has since been re-homed but Diesel still needs a new home. Anyone who is interested is urged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.
