Brother's dog kept in a cage
They handed over their dog to a relative to care for while they tended to their sick daughter.
But the dog was kept in a cage with no heating or bedding, and left to fall into an emaciated state before finally being taken into care by the RSPCA.
Patrick Brown and Laura Kelly, who sent money for the dog's food and upkeep, have now been found guilty of allowing the dog's suffering. The pair gave their female dog Shia to Brown's sister, Patricia Brown, to look after.
Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard that the Staffordshire bull terrier cross would have been in 'a state of suffering' for about three weeks before it was taken into kennels by the RSPCA. At an earlier hearing, Patricia Brown was banned from keeping animals and given a suspended jail sentence after another dog, named Sugar, was found dead in the same cage.
During the trial, magistrates said Patrick, aged 30, and Kelly, 23, knew about Patricia Brown's record with Sugar, and she suffered from depression, which should have stopped them giving Shia over to her. The magistrates said the couple had originally made statements to the RSPCA indicating they had visited Shia at Patricia Brown's home in Myatt Avenue, in Parkfields, Wolverhampton, more than once, which they then denied during their trial.
Mr Roger Price, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the pair had 'seen an opportunity to shift the blame to Patricia'.He said both Patrick and Kelly, both of Johnson Street, Wolverhampton, had visited Patricia Brown and Shia regularly and that they knew the full extent of the dog's condition and how she was being treated.
Mr Harbinder Gahir, defending, said they 'couldn't have done any more in taking responsible steps to ensure the wellbeing of that dog'.
He added that the couple had given Patricia Brown temporary responsibility for Shia when their daughter was in Birmingham Children's Hospital, saying: "They were under a stressful period at the time.
"Their daughter was extremely ill and was in hospital and they were there day and night for their daughter, who was fighting for her life."
Patricia Brown, 34, told the trial she accepted that Shia had been thin, but said it was entirely her fault. She said: "She wasn't thin when she was given to me. They were good owners before I was given the dog."
Patrick Brown and Kelly were found guilty of one count each of failing to prevent unnecessary animal suffering and another each of causing it. They will be sentenced on January 15, 2014 and have been granted unconditional bail until then.
