A North Shields woman has been banned from keeping dogs for five years for allowing her bullmastiff to suffer for months with poor health.
Stephanie Neesam, 23, from Horsham Grove, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her dog called Viper. The bullmastiff had been left without veterinary care for a tumour on her left elbow, a skin condition, and weight loss.
When RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws visited Neesam as part of her investigation she found Viper had thickened patches of skin on her back, tail and paw which was hot to touch and caused her irritation as she was scratching at them. Viper also had a flea infestation which Neesam said she had attempted to treat by using alternative products bought on the internet.
