A man and a woman who subjected their pet dog to so much torment he was unable to move have been spared jail. David Powell and his ex-partner Kate Powell, from Blaenavon, faced offences under the Animal Welfare Act for their treatment of shih tzu Alfie.
Alfie was neglected to the point his corneal ulceration, skin disease, anal tumours and skin wounds worsened considerably and left him so helpless vets were left with no choice but to put him down. RSPCA inspector David Milborrow said upon visiting Alfie at David Powell’s home at James Street in the town the dog was “not able to move or even lift his head”.
The couple pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing in their duties as people responsible for an animal. According to the RSPCA Alfie was not in the appropriate body condition and not protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to a lack of treatment for skin disease, ulcers, tumours and skin wounds.
