Man jailed after he failed to take seriously injured bulldog to vets …
A Wallsend man who left his bulldog to suffer with extensive injuries after a fight with another dog he owned has been jailed.
The two-year-old dog called Babe had injuries to her head, neck and legs but her owner Kevin Turner failed to take her to the vets and let her wounds become infected.
RSPCA inspectors paid a visit to Turner’s former home at Collingwood Road in North Shields[1] on April 13 this year and found Babe with a large open wound on the right-hand side of her ear, neck and face where the skin was hanging loose. As well as the injuries to her face, neck and legs, Babe was also suffering from sore skin on her stomach and the pads of her feet.
The RSPCA said Turner claimed he was registered with the PDSA and had been planning to take the dog to see the charity’s vets the following day. But when the inspector checked the PDSA had no record of him.
Turner, 38, of Coach Road, Wallsend[2], was taken to court by the RSPCA and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the bulldog by failing to seek veterinary care, as well as a charge of failing to ensure the dog’s needs were met.
Two-year-old bulldog, called Babe, after treatment. (Image: RSPCA)
He appeared for sentencing at North Tyneside[3] Magistrates’ Court on October 11, where the court heard a statement from the vet that said Babe may have lost her ear if she didn't have surgery. Turner was jailed for 10 weeks and handed a 10-year ban from keeping all animals.
In mitigation, the court was told that Turner had kept dogs for many years without any issues. Magistrates also ordered that the defendant’s other dog was seized and made an award of £360 costs against him as well as a victim surcharge of £154.
Babe’s damaged ear was reconstructed during surgery and she has since made a remarkable recovery. She was discharged to kennels the day after the operation and her wounds and skin infections then healed over several weeks. She remains in RSPCA care and will be rehomed soon.
After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Terri-Ann Fannon said: “Babe’s injuries were among some of the worst I've seen from a dog attack and the infection she suffered was horrendous. But she has done so well at RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre, where she has made some new doggy friends.
“She was a bit anxious and nervous at first, but has turned out to be a lovely boisterous girl. She was so depressed when I first met her, but she's like a different dog now, full of mischief and wanting treats and attention.”
References
- ^ North Shields (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Wallsend (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ North Tyneside (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)