Family given 10-year ban on keeping pets

A family of three has been spared jail for animal cruelty after their two dogs were left dehydrated and starving.

The mother, son and her partner, of Victoria Road, Quarry Bank, did not feed the pets for two weeks.

Four-year-old German shepherd-cross Honey was half her original body weight and "close to death", Halesowen Magistrates Court heard.

The pet was covered in faeces and had lost some of its fur, Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said.

Tyson, a 10-year-old collie-cross, was also malnourished.

Marc Barratt, aged 24 and Christine Stokes, 53 were given community orders and ordered to pay £250 costs each.

David Plant, 49, must pay a total of £1,974, including vets costs and a £500 fine.

All three were banned from owning or having any role in the keeping of animals for 10 years.

The charges related to a two-week period in November and December last year.

The family had stopped feeding their pets and giving them water, so they quickly lost weight, Mr Sutton said.

He added: "Honey was very severely ill and close to death.

"She was dehydrated, emaciated and plainly suffering."

Plant, a cleaner at the Merry Hill shopping centre, called the AK Duncan vets practice on December 9 to report that Honey had lost weight.

But he kept changing his story, Mr Sutton said. Plant first told the vets he had found Honey in the street.

He later told them he suspected Honey had been poisoned.

When vets went to the house and found Honey, she weighed only 22lb.

Barratt claimed he had not realised Honey was so thin as he only took her for walks at night, Mr Sutton added.

Tyson was seized the following day and both dogs were taken into RSPCA care.

Mike Purcell, representing the trio, said the family had a "lack of ability" to look after the dogs and had not deliberately starved them.

Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector John Ratcliffe said these were the worst cases of neglect he had seen in recent years.

He added: "I'm pleased that the courts have seen the severity of this offence and we are are satisfied with the punishment."

All three were charged with failing to provide Honey with an adequate and nutritious diet including fresh drinking water. They each admitted the charge at yesterday's hearing.

Plant and Stokes also faced a charge of failing to investigate the causes of her poor body condition. The two were also charged with not addressing Tyson's needs for a suitable diet.

The pleaded guilty to the additional charges.

Following the hearing Plant told the Express & Star: "I've done the crime, they've sentenced me and that's it." His accomplices refused to comment.

In sentencing, chairman of the bench Mr Roger Inman told Plant he had given him credit for contacting the vets about Honey's health.

He said: "These offences took place over a long period of time but we have taken into account your ignorance of appropriate care.

"You contacted the vets and gave some care to Honey, which we have also taken into account." Mr Purcell, for Plant, had argued he should not be given a community penalty as he worked seven nights a week as a cleaner at Merry Hill.

"He has to sleep during the day and would struggle to complete the work," he said.

Magistrates agreed to make Plant pay costs instead.