UNITED KINGDOM -- A woman has been banned from keeping animals for life after she left her two dogs to die without food or water in a "horrendous" case of animal neglect.
Andrea Davies, 23, left male Labradoodle mix dogs Koda and Hachi locked in the kitchen of her former home in Stepney Grove, Liverpool with just a bucket of water and a bag of dog biscuits.
RSPCA inspectors discovered the animals' emaciated bodies months later in an advanced state of decomposition and it is thought both pets died of dehydration or starvation.
Davies, of Cherry Lane, Walton, was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates Court today after previously pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of the dogs at an earlier hearing in December.
In their sentencing, magistrates said: "This was one of the most horrendous cases of neglect we have seen in this court and no animal deserves to die or be treated in this manner."
The RSPCA said a post mortem of both dogs confirmed they were emaciated. Plastic was found in Koda's stomach, while Hachi's was found to be empty.
Officers believe the dogs had been left to fend for themselves without enough food or water for a period of months.
They said Davies had not asked for help or told anyone she had left the animals there.
In addition to the lifetime disqualification order, Davies was sentenced to a 16 weeks jail term suspended for 18 months and was ordered to attend a 20 day rehab programme.
She will be electronically tagged for 16 weeks as part of a curfew order and was ordered to pay £650 costs.
RSPCA inspector Helen Smith said: "When I entered, I found 90 per cent of the kitchen floor was covered with faeces and rubbish. Then I saw the dogs, dead.
"It was heartbreaking finding these poor dogs in this awful way, they must have endured a great deal of pain and distress as they died alone.
"We hope by bringing this matter to court we have achieved some sort of justice for Koda and Hatchi."
(Daily mirror UK - Jan 6, 2017)