A man who allowed his Staffordshire bull terrier to starve has been banned from keeping animals for ten years.
Liam Antonio Orchard, of Juniper Court, Eastville, was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on April 26 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing following a prosecution by the RSPCA. Members of the public had become concerned for the welfare of Orchard’s dog Spot and contacted the animal welfare charity.
The RSPCA said rescuers made visits to Orchard’s home but offers of help were refused by him, adding that Spot was taken to a vet who was so concerned by his condition that they arranged for urgent blood tests but this follow up appointment was cancelled by Orchard.
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Inspectors from the RSPCA returned to his address and Orchard, 29, agreed to bring his emaciated dog to the front door and was convinced to allow Spot to be rushed to a vet. Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said in her statement: “I observed that he was in very poor bodily condition, all his ribs, spine, pelvis and bony prominences were very evident, and noted that his skull appeared very sunken.”
She described Spot as being “unsteady” and said he “appeared weak and lethargic climbing the steps” before she rushed him for a veterinary examination. Spot was found to have clumps of faeces attached to his nails and had faecal staining on his elbows and hind legs.
The RSPCA said he also had a dirty coat with a strong smell of ammonia and faeces and ate readily when provided with wet dog food. Spot, who weighed just 10.5kg (1st 9lb) when he was rescued, quickly recovered while in the care of the animal charity and will now be found a new home.
The charity said: "In mitigation, it was said that Orchard, who was described as suffering from anxiety, had not acted with malicious intent and that his behaviour was out of character. It was said that Spot had struggled to eat following the death of Orchard's father two years earlier and that offers of help for Spot had been refused as he’d hoped to help his dog himself."
Along with the ten year disqualification order, which can not be appealed for five years, Orchard must also complete a community order of 18 months, a rehabilitation order of 30 days and pay £400 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive the care they need.
“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Owning an animal is a privilege - and ensuring appropriate care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets. It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met and Spot was left to suffer.”
