An emaciated dog had to be put down after her owner claimed he could not afford to take her to a vet.
Crossbreed Sacha weighed just 26 pounds when she was found collapsed on a kitchen floor at a flat in Withins Drive, Bolton. Her owner, Philip Robertson, has now been banned from keeping all animals for the rest of his life after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Sacha.
The 49-year-old was also given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, at Bolton Magistrates’ Court on June 6. Magistrates heard that RSPCA animal rescue officer Jessica Pierce had visited the property on January 3 of this year following welfare concerns for a dog that was living there.
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“I arrived at the address and was met by a man at the door who was not the owner of the dog but I was invited in and shown upstairs,” she said in her evidence. “In the kitchen I observed an elderly female brindle dog lying on an old coat on the floor.
"She was visibly very thin with every bone showing. When I tried to get her to stand up her feet were buckling underneath her and she wasn't able to walk more than a couple of steps. She had discharge in both of her eyes and ears and she was also coughing and it appeared to be a struggle for her to breathe.”
Police were called to assist and Sacha was seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she was examined by a vet on arrival and admitted for urgent treatment.
Sacha, who was between ten and 12 years old, was in an emaciated, lethargic state. Her ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones were all visible from a distance, and the examination showed increased heart and respiratory rates, an enlarged left kidney, dyspnoea and a respiratory noise on her chest.
The following day, Sacha’s condition deteriorated further. Her dyspnoea was worsening and it was becoming even harder for her to breathe.
She had also started to vomit a coffee ground substance - typically associated with an internal bleed - and fresh blood was found in her faeces.
Due to her suffering, veterinary staff decided it was in her best interest to be put to sleep. As her owner had still not made contact, police were asked to authorise euthanasia on welfare grounds.
The vet who gave evidence in the case said Sacha would have been suffering for many weeks as a minimum, and likely longer.
“I would expect a responsible dog owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight, moreover, if their animal became weak,” she said. “Presenting with an increased respiratory rate and effort will have caused distress to Sacha.
"She will have struggled to breathe and been uncomfortable with every breath. Furthermore, this would have caused both physical stress to her body and mental suffering.
“Ultimately she had endured suffering unnecessarily. Regardless of the cause of the poor body condition, lethargy and respiratory distress and whether treatable or not, veterinary treatment should have been sought much earlier in this case.”
In his interview, Robertson said he always put plenty of food out for Sacha but she refused to touch it. He said he could not afford to take her to see a vet and had not sought help because he was always at work and never had credit on his phone. However, he said he thought he had done all he could for her.
Sentencing Robertson, magistrates said Sacha had been left to die in ‘unmentionable circumstances’ and the case passed the threshold for custody. However, they said Robertson’s lack of previous convictions and his employment were relevant in their decision to impose a suspended sentence.
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Deborah Beats said; “Sacha was an elderly, vulnerable dog who should have received the appropriate care in her twilight years. There were a number of indications that things weren’t right, but unfortunately advice and treatment wasn’t sought and Sacha continued to deteriorate.
“As animals get older they can be prone to certain health conditions that are linked with age, just like humans, so it’s really important that senior pets have regular check-ups with a vet so that any issues can be picked up and investigated at an early stage.
“It’s an extremely sad case and we would always urge people who are in financial difficulty to reach out for help as there are many organisations that can offer support.”
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