Pet ban for couple who kept pony in shed

A couple who kept a pony in their shed without any natural light have been banned from owning pets for 10 years.

The two-year-old dark bay cob was found emaciated by RSPCA inspectors in the garden of Lisa and Wayne Badgers' former home in Nelson Street, Dudley.

The pony, which had been bought by the couple for their children, had been living in the shed and had been fed on a diet vegetables for at least four weeks.

Both Mrs Badger, aged 31, and Mr Badger, 28, who now live in Fens Crescent, Brierley Hill, had pleaded guilty to admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure its needs.

The RSPCA were called to the couple's former home on February 20 following a tip-off, Dudley Magistrates' Court heard.

Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: "A inspector called round and was shown through the house to the garden where there was a garden area with rubbish and a shed.

"Inside the shed was the pony. It was emaciated, it's back bone clearly visible. It was dirty and lice infested. The shed had no natural light, on the floor there was a bowl that had vegetables within it."

Mr Badger was cautioned by the inspector but two days later the RSPCA returned to find the pony in exactly the same state. The animal was seized and taken to a vet where it was treated for lice and emaciation.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson banned the pair from owning animals for 10 years and ordered them to pay £1,150 in vets and court costs. The pair were also given a 12-month supervision order.

The judge said: "Every young girl wants a pony, but everyone knows that they are expensive and that they have complex needs. But you put one into a back yard and took little care of it."

"Naively, you tried to provide the horse with food and water, but you were totally ill-equipped to deal with the animal."