A vet said it was likely General had suffered for around eight weeks and that he died ‘alone and hungry’
The room was full of litter and dog faeces(Image: RSPCA)
A Hull woman who was left to care for a dog while her partner was in prison has been banned from keeping animals for life. The body of the two-year-old bully type dog, called General, was discovered in an emaciated condition, having starved to death.
General was found following complaints of a foul smell coming from a flat that Rebecca Burns, 25, of Bisley Grove, Bransholme, had shared with her partner. RSPCA Inspector Laura Barber attended at the property on April 10.
Concerns had been reported of dead dogs inside and claims that the defendant had left four or five days before. The officer requested help from Hull City Council housing officers who gained access to the flat.
The inspector said in a statement presented to the court that General’s body was found in one of the rooms partially covered under a pink blanket. He was very emaciated and his ribs and pelvic bones were visible and his eyes were sunken.
The room was full of litter and dog faeces and there was only one bowl of dirty water present. General weighed only 17.3kg when he was found and scored one out of nine on a body condition rating (when five is an ideal weight and above seven is overweight).
When interviewed by the RSPCA, the defendant’s partner claimed that General and another dog that was being kept at the property were healthy before he went to prison and that he had left Burns and his cousin in charge of both canines.
But Burns admitted she attended the property infrequently and moved the other dog on before leaving on April 1 last year during a time when it was said she was struggling with depression.
She said that when she last saw General he was “skinny”, but that she “couldn’t look after herself, let alone a dog”.
A vet who examined the dog said there was a “complete lack of body fat and significant muscle wastage” to the carcass. Pieces of plastic and hair were found in the dog’s stomach, which he may have eaten because of the lack of food.
The vet concluded: “It is clear that this dog suffered a slow and horrific death from starvation. It is also evident the defendant understood she was supposed to be looking after the dogs in the absence of their incarcerated owner.
“It is likely General suffered for a period of around eight weeks before his death due to severe emaciation and negative energy balance resulting in cardiac arrest. The dog passed away alone and hungry.”
Burns pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. She appeared for sentencing at Hull Magistrates’ Court on April 14.
As well as receiving the lifetime ban on keeping animals, Burns was handed a 12-month community order under which she has to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) days. Burns will also have to undergo a six-month alcohol treatment programme as part of the order.
The court heard mitigating factors for the defendant were that she had insufficient funds to meet household expenses for her own needs, as well as feed the dogs. She was said to be abusing cannabis and drink and “couldn’t cope”.
The defendant was also fined £20 and ordered to pay court costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £114.
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