A Nottinghamshire couple who allowed their pet canine to endure preventable hurt by not taking him to a vet for seven years have been banned from retaining dogs.
Adrian and Debbie Hawkins, of Westland Avenue in Hucknall, pleaded responsible to inflicting pointless struggling to a male terrier known as Archie after they appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 23.
WARNING: This article comprises graphic photographs.
The pair uncared for to supply veterinary therapy for an ulcerated discharging tumour, which affected Archie’s muzzle and led to him struggling ache between December 2022 and February 2023.
RSPCA officers had been known as after 16-year-old Archie was taken to a vet to be euthanised.
However, the vet was involved the couple’s neglect amounted to an animal welfare offence as a result of giant tumour, necrotic dental illness and “very poor” general well being.
The court docket heard the homeowners had been “remorseful” for his or her actions and that the canine’s therapy was not deliberate cruelty, however neglect.
Mr Hawkins additionally claimed he supplied Archie with 24-hour care and would bathe his mouth.
‘Disturbed’
RSPCA inspector Pamela Bird, who examined the canine’s physique, mentioned: “The smell of infection was overwhelming.
“I observed a hole in the right side of Archie’s face which had pus and tissue dripping out of it. The skin was falling off around the nose.
“I opened the dog’s mouth and could clearly see very few, blackened teeth surrounded by smelly infected tissue, oozing pus.
“I felt the dog’s body and I could clearly feel ribs, spine and pelvis protruding sharply. The dog’s facial fur was matted and there was pus in the dog’s eyes.
“All the dog’s claws were long and curled around.
“I immediately took the view that it would be obvious to any reasonable person that this dog was severely underweight with obvious facial infection.”
A vet who examined Archie mentioned they “felt disturbed” after they noticed the canine’s situation and this “quickly turned into sadness and frustration”.
The vet added: “I felt that he must have had a prolonged amount of time of suffering before being brought in for euthanasia. His condition both overall and due to the extent and progression of the mass showed neglect.”
They had been informed that Archie had not been taken to a vet since 2015.
‘Suffering was obvious’
The vet concluded Archie had been via “prolonged suffering” because of a scarcity of medical care, struggling ache, nausea, lethargy, discomfort and irritation, having been sick for at the very least six weeks, if not longer.
The pair had been each disqualified from retaining dogs for 5 years.
Mr Hawkins, 58, was fined £1,723, ordered to pay a £689 surcharge and prices of £150. Mrs Hawkins, 57, was fined £320, ordered to pay a £128 surcharge and £150 prices.
Speaking after the decision, inspector Bird mentioned: “We as pet owners have a responsibility to do the right thing for our animals. Sadly this was not the case for poor Archie.
“A vet said his suffering could have been prevented or managed through routine healthcare at best and as a minimum, by a check-up when the mass grew and burst.
“It would not take any medical or veterinary expertise to see Archie was suffering and should have been taken to a vet sooner.”
