BRIDGWATER COUPLE WHO NEGLECTED WOUNDED DOG GET 10-YEAR BAN
A COUPLE from Bridgwater have been banned from keeping animals for ten years after leaving their dog to suffer without veterinary care.Michelle Powell, 38, and Daniel Powell, 42, of Weacombe Road, Bridgwater, were sentenced following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Contact was made with the charity by those with concerns about a dog owned by the couple who was reported to be seriously unwell.
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, described the moment she first saw Daisy after visiting the couple’s home address.
She said: “There was no reply and the blinds were drawn.
I was aware that we had not received a response to the previous notice we had left requesting contact so I persisted with knocking and the door was eventually opened.
“I introduced myself and explained the reason for my visit.
I was allowed inside the property.
“I was shown to the sofa in the living room where I saw an adult female cream Labrador type dog.
I was advised that the dog was called Daisy and she was 11 years old.
She was lying on the sofa and was very subdued.
She did not respond to me until I stroked her.
Inspector Daniel said Daisy had a large wound on the left side of her neck, which had a thick yellow discharge.
The fur around the wound was discoloured, as was the fur on her forelegs, and she was very thin, with prominent ribs and body.
Her left eye appeared sore and had a purulent discharge,” she added.
“The eyelashes appeared to be in contact with the eyeball and causing irritation and watering.
Her ears were dirty with the left one appearing infected with a swelling behind it.
Inspector Daniel also noted that Daisy’s nails were very overgrown and her teeth were heavily stained and she had a mammary tumour and a hard mass behind her left ear.
The couple said her neck wound had been present for around a year and that she had not seen a vet for around three years.
Daisy was taken into the care of the RSPCA and was rushed for urgent veterinary treatment.
The vet, who examined Daisy, said in their report: “Clinical problems found in Daisy’s examination were all chronic problems which progressed with severity over time.
“The mass in the ear canal would cause ongoing discomfort, pain and itchiness.
Entropion is a painful condition, due to the eyelashes rubbing on the cornea.
“Poor body condition is suspected to be caused by mouth pain and not being able to open the mouth to eat properly.
“Overgrown nails will affect paw placement and cause mobility pain when severely overgrown, like they were in Daisy’s case.
The wound on her neck and face was very thickened which suggests it was a chronic wound.
“In my opinion due to the above conditions being neglected for a long period of time, the pain and discomfort they were causing, and the intensive care that would have been required to treat these conditions, Daisy was suffering unnecessarily and should have been presented to a veterinary professional much sooner.
“The suffering that was caused by the neglect of the owner was preventable; there were different options available for treatment, for palliative care, like pain relief, to ensure Daisy was not suffering in pain.
“Her conditions would have been obvious to any reasonable person and any reasonable person responsible for Daisy would have sought prompt veterinary treatment.” Daisy was unable to recover from her health issues and was put to sleep after two days in hospital.
Alongside the 10-year animal disqualification order, which they cannot appeal to have lifted for seven years, both were also sentenced to 12 months custody, suspended for one year, with ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Costs of £250 were ordered against each defendant.
When they were sentenced at Taunton Magistrates Court on 15 September.
