A jobless young couple from Sandwell have each been banned from keeping a dog for three years after failing to take their injured pet to the vet.

The two-year-old German shepherd called Chance caught its tail in a door that slammed shut and later had to have it amputated.

Neither Daniel nor partner Leah Flowers, aged 21 and 20 respectively, did anything to have the animal treated, a court heard.

An RSPCA inspector found the dog in the back garden of the couple’s home in Powis Avenue, Tipton, West Bromwich magistrates were told yesterday.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said: “The dog had no access to a shed, no water or bedding and the garden was extremely muddy and littered with rubbish.

“The animal was very underweight and continually chasing its tail.

“Mrs Flowers told the inspector, ‘I could not take him to the vets. I have no money because I have two children to look after’.”

Vet Paul James reported that Chance was almost eight kilos below an ideal weight and had chronic scarring of his tail which was “kinked”, the court heard.

Mr Sutton concluded: “They are not charged with failing to feed their pet but with failing to seek veterinary assistance. It was very obvious that the dog had an injury to its tail.”

Mr Rafe Turner, defending, said the couple had taken control of the German shepherd from a relative and had made attempts to take it to the PDSA after its tail was caught in the door.

He continued: “This is at the lowest end of the scale when it comes to not seeking the assistance of a vet.

“They were not specifically aware of what was causing the problem to the tail of the dog but they were preparing to take it for treatment when the RSPCA intervened.”

The couple have two children aged 18 months and three years but are currently separated, with each caring for one of the children, the court was told.

Daniel Flowers is presently living in Sheldon Road, Stone Cross, West Bromwich, but hoped to move back with his partner at her Tipton home in the near future, added Mr Turner.

The dog has been looked after by the RSPCA for almost 12 months since the accident, running up almost £1,900 in boarding and veterinary fees. Its injured tail was amputated earlier this year.

The couple were each fined £100, ordered to pay £1,000 costs and banned from keeping a dog for three years.