Woman banned after starving dogs

A woman who left two German shepherd dogs to starve after turning to drink when her husband was sent to prison has been spared custody.

Claire Davies was given a 10-week jail but it was suspended for 18 months by magistrates in Cannock yesterday. The 25-year-old was given an 18-month supervision order and banned from keeping animals for 10 years. The court heard that dogs Buster and Missy were "extremely thin and emaciated" when found by RSPCA inspectors.

Davies, of Mill Street, Cannock was also ordered to pay more than £3,800 in compensation by the court.

RSPCA inspectors discovered the dogs after a tip-off from the public in March.

They were seized by the police the next day and examined by veterinary surgeon Amanda Odeku, from Cannock's Melbourne Vets.

She said their ribs, pelvic and spinal bones were protruding. Buster weighed just 19kg while Missy was seriously emaciated at 14kg.

Prosecuting, Mr Roger Price said: "She estimated their weight loss was not over a few days but between 10 and 14 days. This would have caused constant hunger and therefore suffering for two weeks.

"This was caused by the defendant simply failing to provide an adequate diet for their needs."

Davies, formerly of Petersfield, Chadsmoor, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs.

Defending, Mr Neil Gerrity said Davies "loved the dogs very dearly" but was unable to cope after her husband was sent to prison in 2007.

He added that his client did not use her alcohol abuse as an excuse.

"She is very remorseful for the suffering caused to these dogs," he added.

Chairman of the bench Mrs Penelope Carson told Davies: "Whilst you were living somewhere else and enjoying a lifestyle of drinking, you left the dogs to starve."