'Irresponsible' Dudley dog owner sentenced after having 82kg dog put down

A Dudley dog owner has been disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years after her dog was found to be so obese it had to be put down.

Hanna Bruton, aged 59 of Pensarn, Abergele, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

Miss Bruton admitted that she failed to provide her white and brown Malamute, known as ‘Mr Wolf,’ with an adequate quantity of nutrition (to prevent obesity) and failed to protect him from pain and suffering.

The dog was was so obese that he could not stand up, and rescuers were unable to fit his whole body onto the scales.

RSPCA staff said Mr Wolf was found in such a poor condition that he had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds.

Fiona Howell, an RSPCA inspector, went to meet the defendant at her address at Hawksley Road, Dudley, on January 12, 2025, when she saw a 12 year old Alaskan Malamute lying on the floor unable to get up.

“He was panting heavily and made no attempts to stand,” Inspector Howell said in her written statement. “He had a large mass on his left shoulder and he was in obese body condition.”

Inspector Howell was told by the defendant that he had fallen on 4 January after he had tried to chase a cat in the garden and that the “lump had since been getting bigger and bigger.”

The defendant also told Inspector Howell that her pet had not urinated for two to three days and had not been taken to see a vet recently.

Due to his weight it took four people to carry Mr Wolf to Inspector Howell’s van and he was taken to RSPCA Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital.

At the hospital he was euthanised to end his suffering - with consent given by his owner. Following this the vet drained necrotic fluid from the lump on his shoulder.

Inspector Howell said they were unable to fit Mr Wolf’s whole body on the scales.

She said: “We attempted to weigh him but we couldn’t physically fit his whole body on the scales.

“The weight recorded despite this was a staggering 82.2kg. His nails were long and there were thick calluses on his elbows.”

In further communication with Bruton, Inspector Howell was told that she had been trying to get help for a week but did not have the money.

Mrs Bruton also claimed that her dog only lived on dog biscuits and some treats, saying the only way she could have got her dog to lose weight would have been to ‘starve’ him.

The court was presented with the veterinary statement which said that Mr Wolf was “extremely obese” and the large swelling on the left shoulder was approximately 20 cm in diameter.

The vet said: “As denoted through both clinical assessment and in the pathologist report, the dog was unable to stand due to its severe obesity.

“This obesity was exacerbated and/or started by hypothyroidism, though it would have also needed excessive feeding to reach such a level of obesity.

“Hypothyroidism is a well recognised clinical disease in dogs and characterised by multiple clinical signs including, weight gain, lethargy, muscle weakness, and dry hair.

“This would have been easily noted by a reasonable owner and veterinary attention should have been sought.”

At Llandudno Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 6, as well as the 10 year animal ban, Bruton was also sentenced to a 12 month community order with a 12 month probation requirement and was handed a fine of £108. She was ordered to pay £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

In mitigation it was heard that Mrs Bruton was very sorry and loved Wolf, and her own health had stopped regular exercise.

The court also heard that she did not have enough money for a home vet visit.

Following sentencing Inspector Howell said: “All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met. Owners are responsible for their pets’ needs and must seek help if things get out of hand.”