Express & Star

Life ban as puppies die

A mother and daughter who failed to seek immediate treatment for pet dogs infested with worms and suffering skin disease have been banned from keeping animals for life.

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Two of four puppies belonging to Jacqueline and Katie Hurst died as they did not get veterinary care needed and instead tried to treat the pets themselves. They admitted five offences of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between January and February and were sentenced at Walsall magistrates court.

Issues with mange and the eye conditions of the three-month-old rottweilers being looked after at two addresses in Forrester Street, Walsall, were raised after they finally took them for vet treatment.

Once the RSPCA became involved they had concerns about an adult rottweiler dog called Lady, four, and a Staffordshire bull terrier suffering similar ailments.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, yesterday said: "These animals were suffering from a cocktail of ailments so serious they caused the death of two puppies. These people are not fit to have animals."

Mr Patrick Currie, defending, said Lady, who had the puppies, had belonged to the mother but was staying at her daughter's home at the time. They were both helping to look after the pets as the daughter was heavily pregnant and then had a newborn child to also look after.

He said the condition of the dogs only came to light after they had sought some medical treatment for the pets. They then tried to use self-medication to treat the animals rather than seek expert help. "This was a situation of naivety and incompetence rather than wilful neglect," Mr Currie said.

Katie Hurst, 20, now of Miner Street, Birchills and Jacqueline Hurst, 47, of Forrester Street, Walsall, pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

Along with the bans they were also told to pay £250 costs each with Jacqueline Hurst also given a supervision and curfew order. Katie Hurst was told to do 120 hours of unpaid work and also a supervision order.

Welcoming the sentence RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford said: "This was a particularly serious case of long-term neglect which could so easily have been avoided."

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