A cruel pet owner who starved his dog to the point where 'every bone' in its body was visible has been banned from keeping animals and narrowly avoided jail. Mark Gallagher, 32, admitted his adult crossbreed Tyson had gone from being bulky to 'looking like a whippet' after the poor pooch was found locked in a squalid room.
Tyson was discovered severely emaciated in an upstairs bedroom alone after RSPCA inspectors were called to a property in Lemington, Newcastle. Police officers forced entry to the address and took Tyson to a vets where he was found to weigh 20.6kg (45.4lb) and given the lowest body condition score of 1/9.
Vets found no medical reason for his drastic loss of weight - which left every one of his bones visible - other than lack of food. Gallagher was charged with causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet Tyson’s needs, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
