A man has been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after RSPCA officers discovered an emaciated dog at a Rochdale address. Paul Dawson, 37, of Brownside Road in Burnley, was handed the ban at Tameside Magistrates' Court on July 31 after pleading guilty to three offences of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Dog found in filthy conditions
His dog, a bullbreed named Kano, was discovered by RSPCA inspectors at an address linked to Dawson on Alice Street in Rochdale after members of the public 'expressed concern' that the dog had been left unattended in the property. Inspector Beth Fazackerley and rescue officer Francesca Iraci saw Kano through the keyhole 'looking very skinny' on August 6 last year, the charity said.
Ms Fazackerley pushed some wet dog food through the letter box, which the dog ate. Calls for Dawson to come to the door got no response. A warrant was obtained and they returned later that evening with a police officer who gained entry to the property, at which point Kano 'walked around five metres and then slumped to the ground'.
Severe suffering and neglect
Ms Fazackerley detailed to the court how she witnessed Kano covered in 'large clumps' of fleas and observed him scratching himself to gain some comfort. "His ribs, hip bones, spine and other bones were easily visible. I noticed two wounds with scabs above his left shoulder and the other on his right elbow." His nails were untrimmed, his fur and skin were said to 'appear dirty' with 'brown crust' visible in 'multiple places' on his body with fur loss around his headquarters.
Photos from the property show a filthy mattress and rubbish covering the floor, with belongings and faeces 'piled high'. Kano was rushed to for urgent treatment and the vet's verdict was that he was suffering with hunger and severe weight loss. "He was very hungry when food was offered. Kano was suffering for a minimum of three weeks, but likely longer.
"No preventative treatment was provided for flea infestation. Fleas cause irritating itchy bites and if large amounts of fleas feed on the animal they can cause fatal blood loss. In extreme cases flea infestation can cause anaemia which happened in this case." "The amount of rubbish and objects in the rooms and corridor would make it difficult for the dogs to move around. In my professional opinion dogs were being kept in unsuitable, unsanitary conditions and were suffering."
Court outcome and impact
The judge said it was "the most serious case of animal cruelty I have ever dealt with." In mitigation, his lawyers said he showed remorse and offered a guilty plea, and that he was suffering from a bereavement. After pleading guilty to failing to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal - by failing to provide a suitable diet, adequate veterinary care and a suitable living environment - Dawson was handed a 22-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and was banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
He was also ordered to complete 18 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 80 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £400 costs. Inspector Fazackerley said: "Providing an appropriate diet, veterinary care and environment is a fundamental responsibility for any pet owner. In this case it was clear Kano’s basic needs were not being met, and he was suffering for some period of time. We are grateful to the members of the public that reported him to us, so we could rescue him before his condition deteriorated further. If you can no longer care for your pets, it's vital that you make arrangements to ensure their welfare. For any pet owners struggling, there’s cost of living advice on the RSPCA’s website."
