Hungarton man banned from keeping pets after letting dog starve to death
The man was handed a suspended sentence for the crime
A Harborough man has been banned for keeping animals for life after his dog was found dead inside a cage with her head on an empty bowl.
Owen Greaves, 22, and previously of Main Street, was prosecuted after an investigation by the RSPCA.
The charity were called over concerns for a dog owned by Greaves, called Cali.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Hollie Morrall visited the address and described the moment she saw the dog’s body.
She said: “Cali appeared thin, with her ribs, hips and spine visible. Her head had been laid on an overturned food bowl.
“She also had a scab on the top of her head and what appeared to be a wound around the size of a pound coin on the left of her bottom, next to her tail. Around the wound, there was exposed skin.”
In a report to the court, the vet said that starvation was the most likely cause of death.
They said that Cali would have experienced pain and discomfort from feelings of hunger, skin ulceration, and stomach ulceration and that she did not have her needs of a suitable diet met.
Greaves was handed a lifetime ban from keeping animals, which he cannot appeal for seven years.
He was found guilty of failing to meet her needs in his absence at an earlier hearing.
He was also given 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and 60 hours unpaid work.
At Worcester Magistrates Court on October 23, Greaves was also ordered to pay £700 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
In mitigation, he said he was struggling with mental health and financial problems at the time.
RSPCA Inspector Beckie Harlock said: “Pets, like Cali, are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe, and healthy. Every person who owns, or is responsible for, an animal has a duty of care to ensure they stay healthy. That includes ensuring they have a suitable diet.”