CONVICTED (2023) | Callum Paramos, born 23 July 2001, of 14 Seymour Street, North Shields NE29 6SN – left an underweight dog unattended in an empty flat. Paramos pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to a skinny lurcher named Zeus kept in the kitchen of his flat in Seymour Street, North Shields. Zeus was underweight, with his bones seen protruding from his body, and had been left unattended for long periods of time Investigating RSPCA inspector Helen Bestwick described the scene in a witness statement to the court. She said: “I immediately noticed a strong smell of urine.” “The dog was in a thin bodily condition and I could easily see its ribs, hips and spine. His nails were also long. The dog was bright, alert and friendly.” Inspector Bewick noted that the flat seemed to contain no personal belongings, suggesting that no one lived there. She said: “The sofa had been chewed and shredded by the dog. In the kitchen there was a large bag of Wagg dog biscuits which looked like it was nearly full. “There was a bowl of biscuits down and a paint tray being used for water. They looked like they had just been put there. I suspected the dog was regularly being left alone in the flat for long periods of time.” In a court statement a vet said that Zeus was 15% underweight, with his ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible. They added: “The ability and willingness of the dog to eat and the lack of abnormal health conditions detected on examination led me to form the opinion that a suitable diet sufficient in protein, calories and quantity had not always been available.” Addressing the dog’s living conditions, the vet said that the area where Zeus was kept was “littered with faecal material and looked to be wet”. His need for a comfortable, clean and dry rest area had not therefore been met. In court, Paramos conceded that he had fallen short in caring for Zeus, whom he said he had taken on from a previous owner. Zeus now Zeus was taken into the care of RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre, before being transferred to the RSPCA Bryn Y Maen Animal Centre, where he is to be made available for rehoming. Sentencing | 20-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work; £100 in costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping dogs for just two years (expires March 2025) Newcastle World Chronicle