ANTHONY REA OF LIVERPOOL SENTENCED OVER DOG'S NEGLECT

Anthony Rea, born on December 31, 1992, of 106 Bemont Road, Anfield, Liverpool L6 5BJ, was convicted in 2022 for neglecting his dog, Princess, by leaving her tumour untreated.

Princess, an elderly Staffordshire Bull Terrier, suffered from a large tumour on her belly measuring 6.4 cm and a significant mass on her groin. Her condition was dire; she was lethargic, severely underweight with protruding ribs and pelvic bones, and was infested with fleas.

Rea had not sought veterinary assistance for Princess until a concerned neighbour intervened. The RSPCA was contacted, and the dog was taken to the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital on June 15, 2022. Sadly, Princess's condition worsened overnight, and it was decided that euthanasia was the most humane option to relieve her suffering.

Rea admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to his dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Animal rescue officer Katie Glenn, who received Princess from the neighbour, described her condition in her witness statement: “The dog was extremely thin, very weak and lethargic. She didn’t even lift her head when I approached her. I could see she was visibly salivating and I could see a large lump to her belly.”

The assessment indicated that Princess scored only two out of nine on a body condition test, reflecting severe underweight status. A veterinary report revealed that palpation of her abdomen uncovered a hard, sizable mass. An ultrasound confirmed the tumour was within her gastrointestinal system, measuring approximately 6.4 cm, with an additional 15 cm mass in her groin area.

The vet commented: “The dog was likely to have been suffering for a prolonged period and had an extremely poor quality of life. In my opinion she will have suffered for many days and likely longer. The low body weight will have taken many days or possibly weeks to have developed.”

Inspector Anthony Joynes of the RSPCA contacted Rea, who was not present at his flat at the time Princess was taken for medical aid. Rea admitted to the inspector that he knew about the tumour but claimed “vets had said they could do nothing.” He also stated that he had offered Princess food “every single day, but she wouldn’t touch it.”

Commenting after the hearing, Inspector Joynes said: “The poor dog was in a bad way and it was an end-of-life situation, which might not have been the case had the owner had her condition investigated earlier. She was left for many weeks when he knew she was deteriorating. There were symptoms of ill health that he should have acted upon and he would also have qualified for treatment at a PDSA veterinary clinic.”

In sentencing, Rea received an eight-week curfew, was ordered to pay a total of £595 in costs and fines, and was handed a five-year prohibition from owning animals.