Teenager admits starving his dog

A teenager admitted starving his dog to the point where she was emaciated, a court heard.

Luke Evans, aged 19, of Gough Street, Willenhall, appeared at Walsall Magistrates' Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to alsation Bella in August last year.

Evans initially said he had not been able to feed the dog because he was living at his girlfriend's house, but when the inspector noticed he was wearing an electronic tag to ensure he complies with a curfew as punishment for a previous offence, he admitted he was at his home address every night.

Mr Roger Price, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA who found the dog after a tip-off, said when the inspector came to see the dog, Evans simply said "take it" as he did not want her anymore. Mr Price said Evans agreed to be interviewed under caution and admitted he had not fed Bella properly and knew that she was thin.

When Bella was examined by a vet, the vet said she weighed in at 59 per cent of her ideal weight, and on a scale of 0 to five, where 0 is nearly dead from starvation and five is obese, Bella rated one, Mr Price told the magistrates.

Mr Price added that the vet estimated the animal had been suffering with starvation for at least three weeks.

He has applied for costs to be paid by Evans, including £842 prosecution costs, £363 for the RSPCA inspections and £282 in veterinary fees, along with an application to disqualify the teenager from keeping animals.

Evans is due to be sentenced on January 18, and was warned he could face jail.