A woman who failed to seek veterinary treatment for her dog after its paw and part of its leg were severed in a dog fight has been banned from keeping animals for life. Lashon Peters, 33, of The Marian Way, Netherton, was handed a 20-week suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Peters appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court for sentencing on October 7, where she was also given a 12-month probation order and fined £120. Her prison sentence was suspended for 12 months.
Injury discovered during RSPCA visit
The court heard how Peters' Jack Russell, named Tilly, was found with part of her front left leg and paw missing when an RSPCA animal rescue officer visited her former home in Boswell Street, Bootle, on March 8 this year. Peters told RSPCA animal rescue officer Hana Yen that Tilly had sustained the injury during a fight with a French bulldog she had owned a few weeks earlier.
She also told the officer she had "got rid of the dog's paw" after it was severed in the incident, along with part of the dog's leg. Despite the severity of the injury, Tilly had not received veterinary treatment or pain relief. Pieces of bone were visible protruding from the severed limb.
Veterinary assessment and euthanasia
In a statement to the court, Ms Yen said: "Tilly's left leg and paw was missing from the elbow down. The area was dry, but you could see pink flesh and the bone was visible. Tilly had not received any veterinary care following the injuries from the dogs' fight."
Peters agreed to sign Tilly over to the RSPCA, and the dog was taken to the charity's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for pain relief and a full veterinary assessment. However, vets discovered Tilly was suffering from several other health problems, including a condition causing her kneecap to slip, resulting in lameness, while her front right paw was also deformed. Osteoarthritis was suspected in several of her joints.
A vet who examined Tilly said the partial amputation had left skin, muscle and two bones ripped away, causing significant pain, blood loss and mental suffering. The vet said Tilly was struggling to cope on three legs and showed signs of pain when her joints were examined. The vet concluded that surgically amputating the remaining part of her left leg would not significantly improve her condition, and she would continue to experience chronic pain and difficulties walking.
They added: "A reasonable owner would have sought veterinary help in a case of serious and obvious injury like this." Due to Tilly's poor prognosis, vets decided that euthanasia was the kindest course of action.
Sentencing and RSPCA response
The court also heard that Peters had rehomed the French bulldog and a cat that had been in her ownership. In addition to her sentence, Peters was ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.
Following the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes said: "It is inconceivable that an owner would have left their dog to suffer without pain relief and without taking her to a vet in these circumstances. As a result poor Tilly suffered horrendously."
