AN ELLESMERE Port couple who forced their two dogs to live outside with no water and covered in their own faeces have been jailed.
Appearing at West Cheshire Magistrates Court on January 3, Sean Johnson, 22, and Tracy Johnson, 26, both of Pooltown Road, were sentenced to a total of 33 weeks in prison for causing unnecessary suffering to their two female Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
At an earlier hearing, the pair had pleaded guilty to one count of failing to investigate and address the cause of their poor body condition and weight loss of the dogs and another of failing to meet their welfare needs.
After concerns had been raised about the dogs’ welfare, RSPCA inspectors visited the couple’s property in May last year and found the dogs, named Daisy and Fudge, living in an outside area, emaciated, without water or bedding, suffering from fur loss and covered in their own faeces.
Speaking after the case, inspector Leanne Cragg, who had visited the property in May, said: “It just seems that because these two dogs were kept outside they were forgotten and I was shocked and appalled at how skinny they both were and the terrible conditions they had been kept in.
“This is once again another example of people just disregarding their pets without any thought for their welfare. I am satisfied with the sentence handed out and it shows the seriousness of the offence.”
Due to the neglect, Both dogs were thin with many of their bones were clearly visible including their skulls, ribs and vertebrae.
The dogs were taken to a vet and they were given a body score of just one, with Daisy weighing just 9.4kg and Fudge 7.3Kg – both being between 3-5kg under weight.
The couple had owned two other dogs which were kept in the house and which, after checks, were deemed to be healthy. But due to the level of neglect shown to the Daisy and Fudge, they were removed from the home on veterinary advice.
Mrs Johnson was sentenced to 21 weeks in prison – 12 weeks for the offence and an additional nine weeks for breaching a suspended sentence, while Mr Johnson was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison. Both were banned from keeping all animals for five years.
The court ordered a deprivation order for all four dogs, and they are currently in the care of the RSPCA Wirral and Chester Branch, with both Daisy and Fudge making excellent progress and ready to be rehomed.
If you would like to offer a new home to Daisy and Fudge, the RSPCA can be contacted on 0151 638 6318.