When bailiffs forced their way into Alan Smith’s flat in Westmorland Court, Hebburn, to serve an eviction notice, they found his mastiff Sam lying dead in a living room surrounded by dog dirt and rubbish.
They also found an emaciated Staffordshire bull terrier called Lily in the room, which South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard had only survived by eating flesh from the dead dog.
The bailiffs called in the RSPCA who took the surviving dog to a vet and had a post-mortem examination carried out on the mastiff, which revealed both dogs had been starved of food and water for about a month. Smith, 30, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the mastiff by failing to give it a nutritious diet.
He appeared by videolink as he is already serving a three-year prison sentence for an unrelated crime.
No charges were brought regarding the terrier, after Smith told magistrates it belonged to his girlfriend.
Denise Jackman, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “When the bailiff opened the door to the living room, a small dog ran out and went to the toilet to drink water.
“A large emaciated dog was dead in the corner of the room. The smaller dog had been living off the corpse, as half of its face was missing.
“The room was strewn with faeces, empty beer cans and other rubbish. Both dogs were almost skeletal.”
A statement from Smith’s ex-girlfriend was read out in court, which said they had lived together at the flat but that she moved out two months before the dogs were found and they were in good health when she left.
Smith told magistrates he thought his ex was looking after Sam.
But David Hatfield, defending, told the court Smith had moved out of the flat and a friend was looking after the animals.
Mr Hatfield said: “He lived in the flat but had let it to a friend, and had made arrangements that he would also look after the dog that subsequently died.
“He was a trustworthy man and it seems he did indeed look after it for a period of time, and it was only in the last month that it was subject to significant cruelty.”
Magistrates heard that Lily had now been nursed back to health.
Chairman of the bench Harry Metcalfe said: “The dog lived in deplorable conditions.”
Smith was jailed for 17 weeks, to run alongside his current sentence. He was also banned from looking after animals for 10 years.
Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Claire Hunt said: “This was an extremely shocking and upsetting case.
“It is sad that one dog died, but we’re happy the other dog found in the house has new owners and has plenty of time to enjoy a loving home.
“Smith being jailed is a very good result for us.”
South Tyneside Chief Inspector Brian Walker added: “This was a particularly shocking case involving a defenceless animal who was left to fend for itself, ultimately resulting in its death.
“We condemn anyone who would intentionally cause harm to an animal and work closely with the RSPCA to put offenders before the court.”
(Shields Gazette - Feb 25, 2012)
