Couple left dogs to starve

Alan Wootton, aged 42, and his 39-year-old partner Sheila Barker, of Rowley View, Moxley, said they "couldn't afford" to feed their two adult German shepherd dogs Misty and Kai along with four puppies. The couple pleaded guilty to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs when they appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday.

Magistrates chairman Barry Simms told the couple they could face jail when they return to court on Monday to be sentenced.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said inspectors who went to the couple's home on July 18 discovered the two adult dogs and four puppies, all in a state of emaciation which was hidden by their long coats.

Female German shepherd Misty weighed 19.85kg but should have weighed between 25kg and 30kg. On a scale which measures starvation, Misty was rated a two out of nine, with one being close to death.

Male dog Kai weighed 31.05kg when he should have weighed between 35kg and 40kg. The puppies, which were 13 weeks old, weighed the equivalent of eight-week-old pups. All had a rating of two out of nine.

Mr Sutton said that when the couple were questioned about the dogs' condition, they said they were struggling for cash and hadn't fed them for several days.

He said: "These dogs were close to death. They were dangerously underweight. They said they couldn't afford to feed them but they admitted they were spending £50 per week on cigarettes."

Mr Brij Choudhury, de-fending, said: "They are dog lovers and had a German shepherd dog up until recently who lived to the ripe old age of 14. But they have had some real money issues recently and have been find-ing it difficult to feed their dogs. But this couple did not deliberately go out to inflict cruelty on these animals."

All of the dogs have recovered from their ordeal and have been found new homes.