Ban for Bloxwich couple over neglect of pet dogs
A couple have been banned from keeping animals for 20 years after two dogs were found neglected at their home.
Police came across the female Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs when they were called to Dean Ball and Gemma Elson's home in Bloxwich last October in response to concerns, Walsall Magistrates Court heard.
Mrs Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said dog mess was found on the floor of the house and added that it smelled so badly that one officer had to run outside to be sick.
She said there were 'filthy' conditions throughout the house. A black and white dog called Saffy was found in an emaciated state in an outhouse, while a brindle coloured dog, Kizzy, had also been neglected, the court heard.
The animals were seized, along with a puppy, four kittens and a rabbit, the court heard.
Mrs Sutton said no charges had been brought regarding the other animals and they had since been rehomed. She said a vet examined the dogs, and the weight of the black and white dog had dropped to 8.5kg. "She had been starved for a period of not less than two weeks for this level of emaciation to be reached," she said.
Ball, aged 24, and 23-year-old Elson, of Church Street, previously admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the black and white dog by failing to act to address the animal's weight loss, and two charges of failing to ensure the welfare of both dogs between September and October last year.
Miss Stephanie Brownlees, mitigating, said their home was now clean and hygienic.
Magistrates handed them both a 12-month community order, with a supervision requirement, and ordered them to each do 180 hours' unpaid work.
They were both ordered to pay £825 costs and a £60 victim surcharge, and were banned from keeping animals for 20 years.
