COUPLE WHO STARVED THEIR DOG TOLD RSPCA INSPECTORS SHE WAS 'GIVEN TO THEM BY DRUG DEALERS'
A couple accused of claiming that their severely malnourished dog was 'given to them by drug dealers' have been prohibited from owning animals following an investigation by the RSPCA.Simon Short, aged 49, residing on Chestnut Road in Moseley, along with his partner Leanne Louise, aged 37, of Collegiate Crescent in Sheffield, received ten-year bans from keeping animals and were also sentenced to 18 months of community orders at Coventry Magistrates Court.
During a visit to their former residence on Middlesborough Road in Coventry, RSPCA inspectors discovered their Cane Corso-type dog, Sofia, who was in a dire state with ribs, spine, and pelvis prominently visible.
The RSPCA, responding to concerns about the animal’s welfare, found her to be severely emaciated, indicating she had not been properly fed during the last inspection in May.
Additionally, a puppy was found on the premises, and Sofia had given birth to a litter of eight puppies, seven of whom had already been sold.
RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones said: “At the address, I met a female who I now know to be Miss Leanne Wright and a male who I now know to be Mr Simon Short.
They showed me an adult female dog called ‘Sofia’ who was a dark brindle, Cane Corso-type dog.
Sofia’s ribs, spine and pelvis were clearly visible.” Wright and Short informed the Inspector that they had received Sofia from drug dealers approximately eight weeks prior, and they were unaware of her pregnancy until she gave birth to a litter of puppies.
They sold all but one of the puppies and kept that remaining one.
The Inspector observed that the puppy appeared to be in good health; however, he was deeply concerned about Sofia’s severely emaciated condition.
After the owners consented to surrender her to the RSPCA, he took her to Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital for a veterinary assessment and possible treatment.
An RSPCA veterinarian found Sofia to be “extremely underweight,” with a body condition score of only 1 out of 9.
The vet explained that although some weight loss can occur when a dog is nursing puppies, it should be managed with a higher-calorie or puppy-specific diet, and Sofia’s score indicated she was in a much worse state than expected.
She estimated Sofia had lost around 15 percent of her body weight and had endured at least two weeks likely longer of starvation, causing her unnecessary suffering during that period.
She said: “The dog must have been completely starved (complete calorie restriction) for a minimum period of 2-3 weeks in order to have lost 15 per cent of its initial, ideal body weight.
I do not know if the dog had any access to food over this time so she could have had partial calorie restriction for a lot longer than 2-3 weeks”.
The vet’s assessment found that Sofia’s owners had not taken reasonable precautions to prevent her pain, suffering, injury, or disease, notably by failing to provide an appropriate diet.
It was also expected that a proper owner would have consulted a veterinarian and fed the dog suitably.
Following this, the veterinary staff at the hospital set up a specific feeding plan for Sofia, which led to her physical condition improving within just a few weeks, bringing her back to a healthy state.
During a hearing at Coventry Magistrates Court on July 15, both defendants admitted to breaching the Animal Welfare Act and received sentences.
Short was given an 18-month Community Order, which included 20 days of Rehabilitation Activity, 100 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay costs of £350 plus a Victim Surcharge of £114.
Wright was subjected to the same 18-month Community Order, received a £180 fine, and was also ordered to pay £350 in costs and a £114 Victim Surcharge.
