A couple have been banned from keeping pets for three years after it emerged that they starved their dogs and refused to take them to a vet.
Timothy Wood, 53 and his wife Laura Butt, 33, from Draycott, Derby, gave their four dogs nothing besides leftovers of junk food to eat. They would also leave them to fight with each other.
Upon inspection, the RSPCA learned that the dogs had visibly noticeable bones due to lack of proper diet as well as deep scratches indicating unattended hostile interaction with one another. The couple also refused to take the poor dogs to a vet, making excuses that they had a tight schedule.
Both of them pleaded guilty to causing suffering to the dogs at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court.
Butt, who suffers from bipolar disorder, nervous anxiety and adult ADHD, silently cried throughout the proceedings of the court.
The charges pressed against the couple were related to Bear, aged 6, Molly, 14, and Roxy, 7. All of the dogs were underweight, malnourished and had scars from fighting.
Prosecutor Richard Purchase said of the case: “There was a worry at that time that two dogs were underweight. Molly, 14, was thin and Roxy, seven, was underweight. Advice was given that the dogs needed cooked pasta into their dog food and should be taken to the vets.”
The owners didn’t take the dogs to a vet till March 2019. RSPCA inspector Helen Mead visited the property twice in March but was not allowed to see the dogs.
Finally, in May, Helen visited the property accompanied by a police officer because she had “concerns regarding the state of two dogs.”
She found Bear lethargic, whereas another dog at the property “had scabs” and was “grumbling.”
The prosecutor added: “The fear was that it had a fight with one of the other dogs. The scratches were deep and the dog had not had any treatment.
“Mr. Wood said the dogs were fed a lot of food. Ms. Mead asked there was any dog food but Mr. Wood said no.
“The concern was that the dogs were not being fed on dog food but scrap food from the local takeaway. It would appear the dogs were so thin because of their diet. All four dogs were seized.”
RSPCA currently has custody of all the dogs.
The couple’s defense raised the point that they have become ‘‘village pariahs” in the town and not even the local eateries would serve them.
The head of the bench hearing the case said: “These cases are always difficult. That said, whilst we fully respect how the RSPCA brought this case, we and they will have seen much worse cases.
“That is not to minimize the distress you have caused these four dogs. You were incompetent in the care you provided. We also impose a deprivation order for the four dogs.”
The magistrate imposed a total of $396 fine on each of them. The fine included a $102 fine per defendant, a victim surcharge amounting $38 each and RSPCA costs of $511.
Moreover, the couple was banned to keep pets for the next 3 years.
Replaced!