Man allowed neighbour's dog to starve to death
A man who allowed his neighbour's dog to starve to death while he was supposed to be looking after it has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Dean Fellows had been asked to care for the Jack Russell cross breed called Ruby for just over two weeks.
The 22-year-old, from Leamore, Walsall, had looked after the pet belonging to Margaret Doherty on previous occasions, feeding and walking the animal.
But between December 27 last year and January 11 this year the dog, aged three, was left to deteriorate to an emaciated state, Walsall Magistrates Court was told.
Fellows, of Dorset Place, was seen taking the dog's body in a plastic bag and putting it in a barrel at the bottom of his neighbour's garden.
Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Nick Sutton told the court that Fellows had been asked to look after the dog for 16 days.
"The case came to light when information was received by the RSPCA that a carcass of an animal had been seen at the property," said Mr Sutton.
"It was in the back garden that officers found a blue plastic barrel."
Fellows had been given just two cans of dog food by the owner before she left.
"After the food ran out the animal was shut in a downstairs room and given no food," Mr Sutton added.
Nigel Ford, defending, said: "Quite strangely the owner of the dog sits at the back of court in support of the defendant.
"Perhaps there's fault that lies elsewhere. "She leaves the dog at home for two weeks, leaves two cans of food and expects somebody on benefits to pay for food and even, in fact, electricity in the property. I'm not saying it's OK, because it clearly isn't. This wasn't a deliberate act, but his none actions led to the death of the dog."
Fellows was yesterday sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £1,071 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
