Couple jailed after dog is found dead at home

A couple from Walsall who went on a break for over a week while their dog starved to death at home have both been jailed for 12 weeks.

Matthew Murray and mother-of-two Samantha Peters left the Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type pet while they spent more than a week in Welshpool.

A police officer called at the property in Lowe Avenue, Darlaston, while they were on holiday and discovered the dead animal which had been left without food and water and was severely emaciated.

Walsall magistrates heard the dog was given a score of 0.5 by vets on a scale where one is dangerously thin and five indicates obesity.

The RSPCA believe the animal may have suffered for a number of weeks. Both Murray and Peters pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between June 1 and 10 last year.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the dog had not been fed over a long period of time.

Police contacted landlords of the property Walsall Housing Group and then spoke to Murray over the phone. He was described as abusive.

The court was told when interviewed Murray said the pet could have done with a bit more weight on. When asked why the dog had not been taken to the vets he accepted this was due to money and was a "bit ashamed" of her condition.

Mr Sutton added: " These people are not fit to have an animal of any type."

Mrs Penny Chapman, defending, said Murray had bought the dog back from the pub and when Peters had taken her out for a walk she had attacked a neighbour's dog. She added they were now both "extremely ashamed".

Peters, aged 24, and Murray, aged 29, now of Hall Street East, Darlaston, were jailed for 12 weeks by magistrates yesterday and banned from keeping animals for life.