Dog found starving in filthy conditions at Dudley home
She was skin and bones and barely had the strength to stand by the time RSPCA officials found her in a stinking kitchen – even though a bag of dog food was discovered in the front room.
But the man who should have been feeding the dog named Lou claimed she was just 'a bit skinny', a court heard.
Lou, a Staffordshire bull terrier-boxer cross – who tipped the scales at up to a stone below her ideal weight – was living on a floor swimming in urine. Although she initially survived, her ordeal led to behaviour problems which led to her being put down by the RSPCA.
Usmaan Hussain, aged 24, of Buffery Road, Dudley, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Lou and failing to make sure she was provided with a suitable, clean environment between April 3 and May 1.
Dudley magistrates adjourned sentencing until January 6 for reports to be drawn up.
Mrs Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting, said the RSPCA gained access to an address in Spring Gardens, Dudley, on May 1, where they could see the brindled dog was very thin.
RSPCA Inspector Julie Lyons said the property 'stank'.
Mrs Sutton added: "A police officer who attended described the dog as barely able to stand and shaking uncontrollably.
"The floor was running in urine and the officer formed the impression the dog was eating her own faeces as she was so hungry."
Mrs Sutton said Lou was 'emaciated', weighing just 19kg when she should have been up to around 55kg.
Despite Lou's condition, a bag of dog food was found in the front room of the property she was in.
Later, at the veterinary surgery, she ate 'with gusto' and, two weeks later, she had put on 1.9kg, the court heard.
Hussain told the RSPCA that the dog's owner had asked him to look after her after moving out because the boiler had broken at the property.
He said he 'might have missed the odd day' of feeding her and over the previous two weeks she had lost weight.
Mrs Sutton said: "He clearly doesn't have a clue how to look after animals."
Mr Jahangeer Aslam, defending, said Hussain was looking after the dog for a friend.
Hussain had called the friend, who sometimes also went in to feed Lou, to tell him the dog was thin.
"He ought to have known the effect it would have on the dog and regrets not calling the police or RSPCA," said Mr Aslam.
After the hearing the RSPCA confirmed that, sadly, Lou had to be put to sleep because her behaviour after her ordeal meant she could not be found a home.