GARSTON, LIVERPOOL: DANIELLE SOUTHERN AKA DANIELLE FORD STARVED HER TWO DOGS AND IGNORED THEIR HEALTH ISSUES
Her two dogs were in the front room of the property and both appeared to be in a skinny condition.One of them, a one-year-old Bichion Frise called Pixie, was suffering from a thickly matted coat.
In a statement presented to the court, the officer said that it was difficult to assess Pixie’s body condition because of the extensive matting.
The other dog, a two-year-old French Bulldog, called Benji, was so thin that his ribs, spine and hips were visible and he was suffering with skin problems around his ears as well as a tail wound.
“When I handled Pixie I could feel her ribs from underneath and there did not seem to be any fat coverage over the ribs or around the chest,” said the animal rescue officer.
“Benji appeared to have no fat coverage under his skin.” Southern relinquished both dogs into the care of the RSPCA.
A vet who examined the canines scored them both at one out of nine on a body condition score (BCS), which is classed as an emaciated state.
Benji weighed 5.3kg and the vet said that his loss of muscle mass indicated he had been starved of food for a “long period of time”.
Pixie weighed only 2.9kg and her weight loss could have been due to medical problems.
She was so severely matted that she needed to be sedated so that a vet could remove her matts.
Sadly, she was diagnosed with liver disease and it was decided the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep.
The vet stated that both dogs suffered because of an insufficient diet Benji received treatment for parvovirus, but his condition improved and he returned to a healthy weight during his stay with an RSPCA foster carer.
He has since been rehomed.
Southern pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
