Owner jailed following neglect

A MAN has been handed a 12 week prison term for allowing his collie to suffer weeks of neglect, sadly resulting the dog’s death.

Hurban Rabbitts from Somerset was sentenced for failing to treat an illness which led to his pet's death.

Two-year-old collie Guinness was found dead by RSPCA inspectors on 26 January inside a black bin bag at his home. Vet Louise Cawley told Frome magistrates Guinness starved to death because Rabbitts failed to treat an infection the dog was suffering from. The dog weighed just 7.75kg. A healthy collie of his age should have weighed between 17 and 20kg, the court heard.
Rabbitts and his wife both pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog. Rabbitts was also charged £200 costs and banned from keeping animals for five years. His wife was given a 12-month community service order and also banned from keeping animals for five years.

RSPCA inspector Joanne Daniel said: “The defence argued that his clients did not intend for their animal to suffer, but it would have been obvious to anyone the dog was very underweight and was in urgent need of veterinary attention. It is dreadful that any animal should suffer unnecessarily, especially when it is a result of that animal's owners failing to provide them with the most basic of care.”